We could not take up the agenda of (bringing real estate under GST) in the meeting,” said Mr Jaitley soon after the 23rd GST Council China vacuum compressed bag Factory meeting. "We will not allow BJP to impose a Gabbar Singh Tax on India.The 178 items whose tax slab has been brought down from 28% to 18% include chewing gum, chocolates, coffee, custardpowder, marble and granite, dental hygiene products, polishes and creams, sanitary ware, leather clothing, artificial fur, wigs, cookers, stoves, after-shave, deodorant, detergent and washing power, razors and blades, cutlery, storage water heater, batteries, goggles, wrist watches and mattress.

The Congress reacted angrily to the developments. But it will take some time because it has a big revenue implication,” he said."In the last few meetings, as a part of our effort to rationalise GST structure, council has been reviewing rates from time to time.The massive relief for consumers and businessmen comes before the Gujarat Assembly polls next month.Finance minister Arun Jaitley said after a meeting of the GST Council that tax rates of 178 items have been slashed while keeping only 50 items, mostly demerit, sin and luxury goods, in the top 28 per cent tax bracket. But the GST Council has further pruned 12 more items, he said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses the media after 23rd GST Council Meet in Guwahati, Assam. 

Pasta, handbags made of cotton and Jute will be among the 13 items that will now attract a 12% tax instead of 18%. "There was consensus that slowly 28% slab should be brought to 18% cent. (Photo: PIB) Guwahati: In the biggest overhaul of GST slabs yet, tax rates of over 200 items, ranging from chewing gum to beauty products, from wigs to wrist watches, were on Friday cut to provide relief to consumers and businesses amid economic slowdown.It is one of the biggest concessions announced after the new indirect tax system took effect on 1 July. Chidambaram said on Twitter that with economy growing by its slowest pace since Narendra Modi government came to power, the "panic-stricken govt has no option but to concede demands for change” in the tax, Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi said that the decision taken by the GST Council will have cause a revenue loss of `20,000 crore annually. They cannot break the back of the small and medium businesses, crush the informal sector and destroy millions of jobs.

There was unanimity that in the  category there should be only sin and demerit goods. #GSTCouncilMeet” said Congress V-P Rahul Gandhi in a tweet.The announcements on Friday are the biggest concessions after the new indirect tax system took effect on July 1. Currently, 12 per cent GST on food bill is levied in non-AC restaurants and 18 per cent in AC ones.There were 228 items in the 28% slab before the meeting. The fitment committee had recommended that the top 28% slab should be pruned to 62 items.