The Congress is planning to attack the BJP-led central government over the price hike and the GST issue.
The Congress will protest in Parliament on Tuesday against the recent increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates and party leader Rahul Gandhi is also likely to participate in the demonstrations.
Congress Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday that they will protest at the Gandhi statue and also inside and outside the House.
"We will fight against it tomorrow, we will protest at the Gandhi statue and also inside and outside the House. We have called on all parties to fight against price rise, GST hike," Mr Kharge said.
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam also slammed the central government for the change in GST rates and said the party would fight against it, calling the hike "completely anti-people".
"The increase in GST is absolutely against the people, we will fight against it," Vishwam said.
Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the BJP and shared a chart on Twitter showing how commodities like curd, paneer, rice, wheat, barley, jaggery and honey are now taxed. Previously, no tax was paid on these items of mass consumption.
"High taxes, no jobs. A BJP masterclass on how to destroy what was once one of the world's fastest growing economies," he said.
The GST rate recommendations made in the 47th meeting of the GST Council in June came into effect from Monday.
Prepackaged and labeled pulses and cereals such as rice, wheat and flour (atta) will now attract 5% GST when branded and packed in a unit container, while curd, lassi and puffed rice would attract 5% GST. if they are prepackaged and labeled.
Other items such as curd, lassi and puffed rice would also attract GST at 5 per cent if prepackaged and labelled.
The decision to increase GST on these items was taken at the recently held 47th GST Council meeting in Chandigarh.
It is also clarified that a single pack of these items (cereals, pulses, flour) of more than 25 kg or 25 liters would not fall under the category of pre-packaged and marked commodities for GST purposes and therefore do not attract GST.
Other items that will be more expensive are printing, writing or drawing ink, bladed knives, paper knives, sharpeners and blades, spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers and cake servers. These items would now attract 18 percent instead of 12 percent.
LED lamps and solar water heaters will also attract 18 percent tax.
Further, Tetra Pack (or aseptic wrapping paper) used for packaging liquid beverages or dairy products will now attract 18 per cent GST instead of 12 per cent. Cut and polished diamonds will be taxed at a rate of 1.5 percent compared to 0.25 percent earlier.
Hotel accommodation rates up to ₹1,000 per day will now be taxed at 12 per cent,
On the other hand, the tax on the transportation of goods and passengers by cable cars would be reduced to 5 percent from 18 percent.
Truck hire/transportation of goods where fuel costs are included will be cheaper as the tax is reduced to 12 percent instead of 18 percent.
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