People are not happy, Shiv Sena chief warns BJP

Mumbai: In the wake of the government reducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on certain goods, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday credited traders and the common man — whom he said had fought for it — for the development.

Warning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the people are not happy with its “arrogant” regime, he also blamed the Maharashtra government for load-shedding, which has begun in various parts of the state.

Three months after the rollout of the new indirect tax regime, the GST Council on Friday reduced the tax on 27 items after traders and the people voiced their outrage against the move. The government termed this a Diwali gift, to which Mr Thackeray objected. The Sena leader said Diwali was round the corner when people performed ‘Laxmi pujan’, but the people had little ‘Laxmi’ (money) left as the Centre had “looted” them by imposing more and more taxes.

Speaking to reporters at Sena Bhavan, Mr Thackeray said, “They (the government) said that this was a Diwali gift. But it’s not. The credit goes to the common people and traders who were not happy with the GST implementation and fought to have it reduced. The people are not in the mood to listen and they have started speaking out against the government. The arrogant rulers had to bow down before the might of people.... They (the government) have become helpless after feeling the fire burning inside the people. After the GST cuts, the government should do something for the common man like reduce inflation and fuel prices and stop load-shedding.”

On the load-shedding issue, Mr Thackeray said it was the state’s responsibility to manage its coal stock. The Sena chief also questioned the rising fuel prices, which is pinching the pockets of the people. “Petrol prices are going up. It is a serious matter and the government should take immediate steps to reduce it,” he added.