‘Tax terrorism’: INDIA bloc parties protest GST on health, life insurance premiums
New Delhi: Parties within the INDIA bloc staged a protest on the Parliament premises today, demanding the rollback of the 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on life and health insurance premiums.
According to Kashmir Media Service, members of various parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), gathered on the steps leading to the Makar Dwar of Parliament.
Among others, Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK MP TR Baalu, and other opposition MPs participated in the protest. They carried placards reading “Tax Terrorism” and chanted slogans calling for the removal of the GST on insurance premiums.
Later in a post on X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the tax as a “severe blow” to the middle class, which he said is already burdened by high taxes and medical inflation. “India’s medical inflation rate is the highest in Asia at 14% in 2024”. He added that this tax on life and health insurance is inhumane and another example of the BJP’s policy of exploiting opportunities in crises.
Rahul Gandhi echoed Kharge’s sentiments, highlighting the financial strain on ordinary Indians. In a post on X, he said, “Looking for a ‘tax opportunity’ in every disaster is proof of the insensitive thinking of the BJP government. INDIA Alliance opposes this opportunistic thinking. Health and life insurance must be made GST-free”.
In addition to the protest, Trinamool Congress MPs have raised the issue in Parliament, and party president Mamata Banerjee has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The protest reflects growing concerns over the impact of GST on essential services and calls for immediate government action.
