As the Modi government rolls out major reforms in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, the Congress party has seized the moment to highlight its long-standing position. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has begun reposting tweets that are 8–9 years old, claiming the BJP has finally accepted what his party had been advocating from the beginning.

From 22 September, India will see a new GST structure with only two tax slabs—5% and 18%. The 12% and 28% slabs have been abolished, a move aimed at simplifying the system and giving relief to consumers. Congress, however, insists that the change reflects its own earlier recommendations which the BJP had initially dismissed.

Rahul Gandhi’s Old Tweets Resurface

Rahul Gandhi reshared two of his older tweets on X (formerly Twitter). One was from 2016, where he stressed that keeping an 18% cap on GST rates was in the nation’s interest. The other, from 2017, described GST as “Gabbar Singh Tax” and emphasized the need for a single simple rate capped at 18%.

In the 2017 post, Gandhi had written:

“India does not need Gabbar Singh Tax but a simple GST. Congress and the people of India fought to scrap 28% on many items. Our fight for one rate with 18% cap will continue. If BJP doesn’t do it, Congress will.”

By resurfacing these statements, Gandhi is positioning himself as having foreseen the flaws in the BJP’s original GST rollout while underlining Congress’s “visionary stance.”

Congress Leaders Target BJP

Congress leaders have doubled down on the narrative that the ruling party has taken too long to correct its course.

• Pawan Khera remarked, “Rahul ji had always said there should be only two slabs for simplification. It took the BJP nine years to accept his advice. Either they lacked understanding or were blinded by arrogance.”

• P. Chidambaram, former finance minister, also criticized the government:
  “I appreciate that the BJP realized its mistake after eight years. But during this time, the middle class and poor were burdened unnecessarily. Back then, I had repeatedly warned against this flawed tax design, even in Parliament. Today, rates have finally been rationalized to 5% and 18%, just as we recommended years ago.”

• Jairam Ramesh went a step further, questioning whether the GST Council—the apex decision-making body for GST—was being sidelined.
  “The Prime Minister had hinted at reducing GST rates in his Independence Day speech, even before the Council met. Has the GST Council now become a mere formality?” he asked.

Political Tug-of-War Over GST 2.0

The Congress party has been demanding a “GST 2.0” for years, arguing that the original structure launched in 2017 was complex, growth-stifling, and unfair to small businesses and consumers. They insist the Congress’s 18% cap proposal was ignored at the time due to BJP’s political stubbornness.

Now that the Modi government has announced the elimination of 12% and 28% slabs, the Congress claims vindication. For the opposition, this reform is being presented as proof that the BJP has backtracked and belatedly adopted Congress’s recommendations.

What the GST Reform Means for Citizens

With the new structure effective 22 September, Indian households are expected to see tangible relief. Essential goods such as milk, bread, and medicines will either be exempted or taxed at the lowest slab, while luxury goods and certain services will fall under the 18% category.

Investors also responded positively. The stock market surged after the announcement, with reports stating that investors gained nearly ₹3.5 lakh crore in just 15 minutes of trading on the day following the GST decision.

Congress Seeks Political Mileage

The Congress is framing the GST reform not as a government achievement but as a delayed acknowledgment of its foresight. By resurfacing Rahul Gandhi’s 2016 and 2017 tweets, the party wants to remind voters that it had been advocating simplification long before the government took corrective measures.

For BJP, however, the focus remains on presenting the move as a pro-people reform that will ease compliance and bring relief to consumers, especially before upcoming state elections.