Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Friday demanded a few changes in the new tax slab. (Source: PTI)Calling GST a historical and positive step taken by the government, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Friday demanded a few changes in the new tax slab while talking to ET Now. He said the current rates are hampering revival of Ayurveda in India as the tax has been increased from 5% to 12%. Giving examples of alcohol and luxury items, Baba Ramdev said the government should impose more tax on these items and not on Ayurveda. Ramdev added that he has objected to this and is hopeful that the right steps will be taken.
Talking about the higher rate of GST on cow ghee, Baba Ramdev said this might lead to more cow slaughter in the country. However, he added that government isn’t anti-cow or anti-national, it understands the problem and wants to improve things. Last week, Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali Ayurved also expressed disappointment over the high GST rate on ayurvedic products by asking how can people feel and live ‘Achchhe Din’ without the right to good health, reported PTI.
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In conversation w/ ET NOW’s @sonalikrishna, @yogrishiramdev said that higher GST on cow ghee will lead to more cow slaughter. Listen in: pic.twitter.com/nUILItA8Ag
— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) June 2, 2017
“Higher GST on ayurvedic category has surprised us and is very disappointing and disheartening,” Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Patanjali Yogpeeth spokesman S K Tijarawala told PTI in an emailed response. He further said Ayurveda, which provides care and cure to the common man at an affordable price and is ancient and proven therapy for ages, doesn’t deserve such treatment. “Good health and healthy living is common man’s basic right and expectation. Without all these, how can one feel and live ‘Achchhe Din’?” he said.
Meanwhile, Association of Manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines (AMAM) expressed a similar concern. “The Indian government has been aggressively promoting ayurvedic products internationally but what’s the point of doing these things when the tax rate is so high and the common people can’t afford it at home?” AMAM General Secretary Pradeep Multani was quoted saying by the agency.