The resurfacing of Nitin Gadkari's 2014 promise to abolish most taxes if the bharatiya janata party (BJP) was voted to power has sparked a wave of trolling and criticism across social media platforms. At the time, the bjp, under narendra Modi’s leadership, campaigned heavily on promises of economic reform, tax cuts, and reduced inflation.
Gadkari’s statement, which criticized the Congress-led UPA government for its failure to control inflation and its tax policies, resonated with many voters who were disillusioned with the previous administration. However, as india approaches the 10th year of BJP's governance, these promises have been called into question, with netizens pointing out that the reality has starkly differed from the expectations set in 2014.
Under bjp rule, rather than the promised tax cuts, india has witnessed an increase in taxes, including the introduction of the Goods and services Tax (GST), which many people feel has added complexity and financial burden. Additionally, inflation has remained a persistent issue, with prices of essential goods such as food and fuel remaining high.
While the government has often attributed this to global economic factors and external crises, many critics argue that these issues were compounded by domestic policy failures, including inconsistent implementation of economic reforms and an overreliance on fiscal measures that failed to address the root causes of inflation. As a result, there is growing disillusionment among ordinary citizens, leading some to nostalgically look back at the congress years, a sentiment that once seemed unthinkable.