Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on the central government’s economic policies, alleging that the government has given free rein to large monopolies while shackling small and medium-sized businesses with bureaucratic hurdles and flawed policies. He stated that policies like the flawed Goods and Services Tax (GST) have crippled traders and severely damaged the country’s production-based economy.
Rahul Gandhi made these remarks after an extensive business dialogue with representatives of the Vaishya community. The dialogue included business owners from various sectors such as footwear manufacturing, agricultural products, industrial electricals, paper and stationery, travel, stone cutting, chemicals, and hardware. The representatives told Rahul Gandhi that their businesses were now “on the verge of collapse.” Gandhi described this as a wake-up call, saying that the community that has always been a source of employment and wealth creation is now facing despair.
Monopoly vs. Small Businesses
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government’s policies are skewed towards a few large corporate houses. According to him, the monopoly and duopoly-based governance model is hollowing out the country’s economy. He said that small and medium-sized businesses, which are the backbone of the country, have been crushed under the weight of bureaucracy and complex regulations. Gandhi termed this not just a policy failure, but a direct attack on production, employment, and the future of the country.
Serious Questions on GST
Traders termed the GST system an “instrument of oppression” instead of a reform. They said that the impractical and illogical GST slabs have been deliberately designed to ensure that MSMEs cannot survive. Rahul Gandhi had previously called GST the “Gabbar Singh Tax.” The dialogue also included allegations that by increasing GST on raw materials and decreasing it on finished goods, the government is only creating an illusion of consumer relief, while directly harming small industries.
Questions on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
Trade representatives claimed that ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) has remained merely a political slogan on the ground. According to them, due to the current policies, India is becoming more dependent on China than ever before. They agreed with Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that three or four billionaires cannot provide employment to the country. Employment will only be generated when production increases and MSMEs become stronger.
Support from the Vaishya Community
At the end of the dialogue, the traders said that they had not taken Rahul Gandhi’s warnings seriously before, but now the situation has cleared up all misunderstandings. They pledged to openly stand with Rahul Gandhi’s struggle and vision for a democratic India, a production-based economy, employment, and economic justice.
Following Rahul Gandhi’s statement, the confrontation between the ruling BJP and the Congress party over economic policies is likely to intensify. While the Congress is accusing the government of promoting monopolies, the BJP has consistently described its policies as development-oriented. This debate is likely to escalate further in the coming days.
