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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP MP's remarks on pregnant woman's demand for motorable road to village in M.P. stir row
Madhya Pradesh BJP MP Rajesh Mishra has courted controversy after accusing a pregnant woman from his constituency, who demanded a motorable road to her village in Sidhi district, of seeking social media fame, while also offering to make arrangements for her delivery. Earlier this week, Leela Sahu, a Bagheli content creator from Khaddi Khurd village, had shared a video on social media featuring herself and seven other pregnant women, highlighting their demand for a road connecting their village to a town 10 km away, which they said has the closest medical facility. Ms. Sahu, who has over 11 lakh subscribers on YouTube and four lakh followers on Facebook, has since shared multiple videos showing the village's muddy road conditions, vehicles stuck in the mud, and locals locals demanding improvements. In one of her videos, Ms. Sahu, who claimed she was nine months pregnant, addressed the MP, asking him who would be held responsible if any of the pregnant women encountered difficulties due to the village's poor road conditions. Ms. Sahu claimed that after she raised the issue through her videos last year, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention, Mr. Mishra assured her that the road would be built within a year. However, she alleged that despite this promise, no progress has been made on the project. 'If you did not have the courage to build the road, then why did you make the promise? We could have approached bigger leaders like Mr. Modi and [Union Road Transport Minister] Nitin Gadkari,' she said in a video. Mr. Mishra, however, said using pregnancy as a means to raise demands wasn't right. 'There must have been many women in that village who have undergone deliveries and so many children have been born but has any incident happened till now? There is [Chief Minister] Mohan Yadav's government in M.P. If needed we can even get a patient airlifted by helicopter or airplane,' he told reporters on Friday. 'We have ambulances and other facilities. We have ASHA workers. We will make arrangements for the delivery. Come and get admitted to a hospital if there is a problem. Each delivery has an expected date. We will get them picked up a week before that. Our government gives all facilities, including food and water. This is why I feel it's not right to put this [pregnancy] in front to talk about such things. If someone wants to get famous on social media, then you can do anything for it. This thing will happen in every village then,' he said. On Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh's Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh had stated that while many people make demands through social media, it's not feasible for the department to start construction work immediately. 'If someone puts a post on social media, do you think that the PWD has enough budget that we reach there with a dumper to make the road? This is not possible,' Mr. Singh had said. 'Shameful comments' State Congress president Jitu Patwari termed Mr. Mishra's remarks 'shameful and filled with arrogance'. 'The woman is being asked her delivery date so that she can be taken to hospital from her house, but the road was not built,' he said in a video statement.
India.com
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- India.com
Big Relief On Toll Tax: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Unveils Plan For Toll Tax Reform
Nitin Gadkari's Statement on Toll Tax: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, while attending Zee Bharat's program 'Bharat Ki Udaan', made a significant statement regarding toll tax. He has announced that he will make a big announcement in the next three days. He has also indicated that this announcement is going to be such that everyone will be happy. Good news is coming regarding toll tax When Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was involved in Zee Bharat's program 'Bharat Ki Udaan', was asked a question about the reduction in toll tax, he pointed towards a big decision and said - 'I will make such an announcement within three days at the most, no one will ask a question about toll, and everyone will be happy.' In such a situation, it is being speculated that Nitin Gadkari is going to take a big decision regarding toll tax, in which the announcement of abolishing the toll gate completely can be made. Earlier in April 2025, Nitin Gadkari had also indicated that abolish the toll gate. At the same time, people are likely to get relief from the jam on the highway and an arbitrary recovery. Nitin Gadkari also talked about making the automobile industry the number one industry in the world. He said- 'Automobile is the most important industry of our country. When our government came in 2014, the size of this industry was 14 lakh crores. We were at number seven then. According to a report that came four months ago, the size of our industry has become 22 lakh crores, and we have reached number three by defeating Japan. America is at number one in the world, whose an industry size is 79 lakh crores. China is at number two, whose an industry size is 48 lakh crores. India is at number three, whose an industry size is 22 lakh crores.' The way cars from Mercedes to the most expensive cars, tractors, and two-wheelers are being made in India, and are being exported all over the world. In terms of two-wheeler exports, we are in second place in the world. This is an industry that has provided 4.5 crore jobs to the youth across the country. This is an industry that gives the highest GST to the Government of India. Our first target for this industry is to we should reach the first position in the world in the coming 5 years; this is our effort. Logistics cost will be reduced During the Bharat Ki Udaan program, Nitin Gadkari also talked about reducing logistics costs. He said- 'If our country has to move forward, then logistics costs will have to be reduced. Currently, our logistics cost is 16 percent. Whereas, in Europe and America it is 12 percent, while in China it is 8 percent.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gadkari seeks 5% GST on crude ethanol to push flex-fuel cars, warns against petrol parity
As the Centre and states gear up for a major overhaul of India's Goods and Services Tax ( GST ) framework, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for a reduction in the GST rate on crude ethanol—from the current 18 per cent to 5 per cent —in a bid to support the production and adoption of flex-fuel vehicles , according to a report by ToI. At present, ethanol that is used under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme attracts a concessional GST rate of 5 per cent . However, crude ethanol continues to be taxed at the higher rate of 18 per cent . A source told TNN that Gadkari has urged for parity between the two, cautioning that taxing crude ethanol at such a high rate could discourage people from opting for vehicles that run entirely on ethanol. "Why will people go for these vehicles if the price of crude ethanol is equal to or more than that of petrol?" the source quoted Gadkari as saying. Although over 400 fuel outlets in the country currently offer 100 per cent ethanol, consumer interest remains weak. Gadkari believes this trend can be reversed if a more favourable tax policy is introduced for crude ethanol. Gadkari's appeal comes as the Union government is in the process of re-evaluating the GST structure. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a team of officials are reviewing various rationalisation proposals ahead of detailed consultations with states. The larger exercise aims to streamline the GST regime, enhance revenue efficiency, and address classification issues that have emerged since the tax was introduced in 2017. Earlier attempts to bring about change through two separate Groups of Ministers (GoMs) did not yield any actionable consensus. A third GoM is now studying the issue of cesses, particularly the compensation cess, which is set to lapse in March next year. India's GST structure currently features four primary tax slabs: 5 per cent , 12 per cent , 18 per cent , and 28 per cent . While the majority of items fall under the 5 per cent bracket, most of the revenue is generated from the 18 per cent slab. Industry bodies have long been pressing for a simplification of this framework, especially a merger of the 12 per cent and 18 per cent slabs into a single rate of 15–16 per cent . However, such a move may lead to revenue losses and face political opposition from states. Gadkari's proposal to lower GST on crude ethanol aligns with the country's wider energy and transport objectives, including reducing reliance on imported oil and encouraging the use of alternative fuels . It is still uncertain whether this suggestion will be included in the final set of GST reforms currently under consideration.
Entrepreneur
12-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Gadkari Pushes for 5% GST on Crude Ethanol Amid Broader Tax Overhaul
While a large volume of items fall under the 5 per cent category, most of the government's revenue comes from the 18 per cent slab You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. As India prepares for a significant revamp of its Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has pitched for a steep reduction in the GST on crude ethanol—from 18 per cent to 5 per cent—to support the shift toward flex-fuel vehicles, as per The Times of India report. Currently, ethanol used under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme enjoys a concessional GST rate of 5 per cent. In contrast, crude ethanol—used in pure ethanol vehicles—is taxed at 18 per cent, a disparity Gadkari warns could derail the broader adoption of cleaner, ethanol-based mobility solutions. "Why will people go for these vehicles if the price of crude ethanol is equal to or more than that of petrol?" Gadkari reportedly said, according to a source cited by TOI. Though over 400 filling stations across the country now supply 100 per cent ethanol, uptake remains limited. Gadkari believes lowering the tax burden on crude ethanol could make flex-fuel vehicles more attractive to consumers, reinforcing India's push for alternative energy in transport and reducing dependence on imported crude. His call comes at a critical juncture, as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leads the Centre's renewed effort to rationalise the GST framework. The exercise, which includes consultations with state governments, seeks to streamline tax rates, correct classification anomalies, and improve revenue efficiency. This effort follows two earlier attempts by separate Groups of Ministers (GoMs) to address similar concerns—both of which ended without consensus. A third GoM is currently examining the future of cesses, particularly the compensation cess that is scheduled to lapse by March next year. The broader reform could have implications for both industry pricing and state finances. India's GST system, introduced in 2017, includes four main tax slabs—5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent. While a large volume of items fall under the 5 per cent category, most of the government's revenue comes from the 18 per cent slab. Industry bodies have advocated for merging the 12 per cent and 18 per cent brackets into a single 15–16 per cent rate to simplify compliance. However, such changes could result in significant revenue loss and face resistance from state governments concerned about shrinking fiscal space.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Gadkari seeks 5% GST on crude ethanol to push flex-fuel cars, warns against petrol parity
As the Centre and states gear up for a major overhaul of India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for a reduction in the GST rate on crude ethanol—from the current 18% to 5%—in a bid to support the production and adoption of flex-fuel vehicles , according to a report by ToI. At present, ethanol that is used under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme attracts a concessional GST rate of 5%. However, crude ethanol continues to be taxed at the higher rate of 18%. A source told TNN that Gadkari has urged for parity between the two, cautioning that taxing crude ethanol at such a high rate could discourage people from opting for vehicles that run entirely on ethanol. "Why will people go for these vehicles if the price of crude ethanol is equal to or more than that of petrol?" the source quoted Gadkari as saying. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo Although over 400 fuel outlets in the country currently offer 100% ethanol, consumer interest remains weak. Gadkari believes this trend can be reversed if a more favourable tax policy is introduced for crude ethanol. Gadkari's appeal comes as the Union government is in the process of re-evaluating the GST structure. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a team of officials are reviewing various rationalisation proposals ahead of detailed consultations with states. The larger exercise aims to streamline the GST regime, enhance revenue efficiency, and address classification issues that have emerged since the tax was introduced in 2017. Live Events Earlier attempts to bring about change through two separate Groups of Ministers (GoMs) did not yield any actionable consensus. A third GoM is now studying the issue of cesses, particularly the compensation cess, which is set to lapse in March next year. India's GST structure currently features four primary tax slabs: 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. While the majority of items fall under the 5% bracket, most of the revenue is generated from the 18% slab. Industry bodies have long been pressing for a simplification of this framework, especially a merger of the 12% and 18% slabs into a single rate of 15–16%. However, such a move may lead to revenue losses and face political opposition from states. Gadkari's proposal to lower GST on crude ethanol aligns with the country's wider energy and transport objectives, including reducing reliance on imported oil and encouraging the use of alternative fuels . It is still uncertain whether this suggestion will be included in the final set of GST reforms currently under consideration.
