'Modi ne kiya hota to baal noch lete' : PM Modi slams Cong over tax reforms in their tenure

"Before I came in 2014, whether it was kitchen utensils or agricultural things, or medicines, and even life insurance, the Congress government took different taxes on such various things," PM Modi said"Toothpaste, soap, hair oil - 27% tax on them. 18 to 28 per cent tax on food plates, cup plates, spoons. Tooth powder -- 17% tax... The condition was that the Congress people used to take 21% tax on children's toffees," he said. The humble cycle, required by crores in the country carried a 17 per cent tax. "Sewing machine -- for lakhs and lakhs of mothers and sisters, it is a means of self-respect and self-employment. 16 per cent tax was imposed on this," he said. The Congress, he added, had made building houses difficult, imposing a 29 per cent tax on cement and made it "very difficult for the middle class to travel", with 14 per cent tax on hotel rooms. Air conditioners, television, fan-all such items carried a tax of 31 per cent.