Single GST Rate should be adopted to shield MSME: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Creating industrial centres and imposing a single GST rate are critical steps to protect these MSMEs, according to top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Narendra Modi administration of favouring larger corporations at the expense of small and medium firms.

Sharing a video of his recent visit to the chocolate-making facility ‘Moddys Chocolates’ in Ooty, he claimed the famed brand, like countless other small and medium companies throughout India, is wrestling with the weight of the “same adversary — the Gabbar Singh Tax” (GST).

Rahul had just visited Moddys Chocolates on his route to Wayanad, his Lok Sabha seat, after his Parliament membership was reinstated.

Nestled among the scenic Nilgiris is a world recognised Indian industry: the chocolate-makers of Ooty, which he described as a “delightful experience.”

“The entrepreneurial spirit of the couple behind this small business, Muralidhar Rao and Swati, is inspiring. The all-female staff that works alongside them is also impressive. This dedicated team of 70 women creates some of the most exquisite couverture chocolates I’ve ever tasted,” he remarked.

However, he stated that Moddys, like countless other small and medium-sized enterprises across India, is burdened by the same foe – the Gabbar Singh Tax.

“In a landscape where the government appears to favour larger corporations at the expense of the MSME sector, it is the pure grit of hard-working Indians like the women I met here that sustains India’s growth,” he added.

“Creating industrial hubs and implementing a single GST rate stand as critical measures to protect these MSMEs, which collectively have the power to drive India’s growth engine. Women-led teams like these deserve all the help we can provide. Muralidhar and Swati’s children deserve a future in India,” Rahul said.

Rahul is also shown in the video attempting to make chocolate and chatting with the factory’s all-female workforce.

Sharing the video, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh stated, “Taking forward the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi recently visited an Ooty chocolate factory run by women. He talked with them, listened to their stories, admired their efforts, and understood their challenges.”

“People associated with small as well as small and medium industries must be heard in a similar manner. They require assistance,” he added.