Modi government gave relief on cement, Congress government imposed ban: Jamwal
2 min read
Shimla 23 September
• Due to GST, the public got a benefit of Rs 40 on a cement bag, while due to increase in Additional Goods Tax by the Congress government, there was a loss of Rs 5.
Shimla, BJP state chief spokesperson and MLA Rakesh Jamwal said that on the first Navratri, the Modi government at the center implemented new GST rates. Cement, which used to be 28% GST, will now be charged at 18%, a direct benefit of 10%, reducing the price of a bag of cement by ₹40.
He said that given the disaster-ravaged Himachal Pradesh, or rather, the damage to homes across Himachal Pradesh, a reduction in cement prices would have provided significant relief to the people of the state during this difficult time. Meanwhile, the Congress-led Sukhwinder Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh, which repeatedly pretends to be pro-people, issued a notification yesterday, increasing the Additional Goods Tax (AGT), which was previously ₹11 per bag of cement, to ₹16, resulting in a ₹5 increase in the price of each bag. This proves that the Congress government has played a role in hindering the central government’s relief efforts from reaching the public.
He said that before the disaster struck in 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was in power in Himachal Pradesh. AGT was ₹7.5 per cement bag. However, as soon as the disaster struck in 2023, the Sukhu government increased it from ₹7.5 to ₹11. Now, in 2025, another disaster struck, leaving people homeless and on the verge of extinction. This additional goods tax has been increased from ₹11 to ₹16. Jamwal said that the people of the state can clearly see the difference between the Congress and the BJP. While Modi offered gifts to the public during the first Navratri, the Congress party snatched those gifts away. This is a very unfortunate decision by the Congress government. Even in this time of crisis, the Congress government has not shied away from burdening the public and imposing various taxes.
