Paromita Das
New Delhi, 6th September: At a time when Bharat is grappling with heavy tariffs imposed by the United States, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform has arrived as both an economic relief and a political game-changer. By rationalizing tax slabs—most notably reducing the levy on bidis from 28% to 18%—the reform strengthens domestic industries and shields consumers from unnecessary burdens. But instead of engaging in serious policy debate, the Congress party’s Kerala unit attempted a cheap shot on social media, comparing “Bidi” with “Bihar,” mocking an entire state and insulting millions of Bharatiya. The post has since been deleted, but the insult remains.
This episode is more than a slip—it’s a window into the opposition’s arrogance. While the GST reform works to protect Bharat from foreign economic aggression, Congress is busy derailing discourse with insensitive jibes. Ironically, what was meant to be a political attack has backfired spectacularly, uniting Bihar across party lines and exposing Congress’ disdain for ordinary citizens.
GST Reform: Strengthening Bharat’s Economic Backbone
The GST reform is not a random sops distribution; it’s a strategic move at a critical juncture. With Washington tightening tariffs on Bharatiya exports—from steel to chemicals—Bharat needed internal relief to keep industries competitive. By cutting down the GST on essential and labor-intensive sectors, the government is ensuring survival and stability for domestic producers.
Take bidi manufacturing as an example. It is not a luxury industry but one that employs lakhs of workers, most of them from rural Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. A punitive 28% tax was choking this sector, risking livelihoods. Reducing it to 18% gives workers breathing space, saves jobs, and keeps a traditional industry afloat in a hostile global trade climate.
The opposition might try to paint this reform as an “election gimmick,” but in reality, it is an economic buffer against America’s heavy-handed protectionism. When tariffs abroad suffocate exports, Bharat must rationalize costs at home. The GST reform is not charity—it’s survival economics.
Bihar Mocked, Bharat Insulted
Instead of acknowledging this reality, Congress’ Kerala unit chose to make Bihar the butt of its joke. The now-deleted post—“Bidis and Bihar start with B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore”—was nothing short of insulting. It trivialized a serious reform and reduced Bihar’s proud identity to a pun.
The outrage was instant. Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary blasted Congress for belittling the state, reminding the nation that this is the same party that mocked PM Modi’s late mother. JDU’s Sanjay Jha added a biting retort: “B doesn’t just mean bidi; it also means buddhi (intellect)—something Congress clearly lacks.” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla went a step further, saying, “If B is for Bidi and Bihar, then C is for Congress and Corruption.”
पहले हमारे माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी की पूजनीय माता जी का अपमान और अब पूरे बिहार का अपमान — यही है कांग्रेस का असली चरित्र, जो बार-बार देश के सामने उजागर हो रहा है। pic.twitter.com/VvliP16tTJ
— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) September 5, 2025
And ordinary citizens weren’t silent either. Across social media, Biharis voiced their anger, not just at the insult but at the arrogance it revealed. For a party already on political thin ice in Bihar, this was electoral suicide dressed up as wit.
A Pattern of Arrogance
The “B for Bidi, B for Bihar” remark is not an isolated incident. It fits into a long pattern of Congress and its allies insulting Biharis and ordinary Bharatiya. From vile abuses hurled at the Prime Minister’s late mother during the so-called “Vote Adhikar Yatra,” to DMK leaders’ derogatory remarks about Bihari migrant workers in Tamil Nadu, the INDIA bloc has repeatedly revealed its elitist contempt.
Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s infamous “UP, Bihar de bhaiye” jibe still lingers in public memory. DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran’s remark that “Biharis come to Tamil Nadu to clean toilets” is fresh in people’s minds. When Congress invited MK Stalin to campaign in Bihar, it only rubbed salt in old wounds.
This steady drip of insults is not accidental—it’s ideological arrogance. Congress and its allies see the hardworking poor, migrants, and rural citizens not as the backbone of Bharat but as expendable punchlines.
Congress Misses the Big Picture
While mocking Bihar, Congress missed the larger economic and political picture. The GST rationalization is not about appeasement—it’s about resilience. By lowering taxes on labor-driven industries, the government is defending Bharat’s economy from the ripple effects of American tariffs.
Instead of presenting a constructive alternative, Congress has twisted the narrative into an insult. It has failed to see how reforms like these are shields against foreign economic pressure and catalysts for domestic growth. Worse, it has failed to respect the very people it seeks votes from.
Bihar Deserves Respect, Not Ridicule
Bihar is not just another state; it is the heart of Bharat’s democratic soul. From Chanakya, who laid the foundations of governance, to Jayaprakash Narayan, who ignited Bharat’s second freedom struggle against authoritarianism, Bihar has always been the land of intellect and revolution. Its migrant workers fuel Bharat’s cities, its thinkers shape Bharat’s politics, and its farmers feed Bharat’s millions.
Mocking Bihar is mocking the very roots of Bharat. And Congress, through its elitist snobbery, has reminded the people of Bihar why it keeps sinking deeper in irrelevance. Arrogance doesn’t win elections—respect does.
GST Reform as Policy, Congress’ Remark as Politics
The GST reform, coming at a time of external tariff wars, is a smart move to keep Bharat’s industries competitive and protect jobs. It is an example of policy meeting necessity. Congress’ attempt to twist it into a cheap jibe has only backfired, exposing its arrogance and disdain for the people of Bihar.
As Bihar heads toward assembly elections, the contrast couldn’t be clearer. On one side, a government that is recalibrating economic policy to withstand global shocks. On the other, an opposition that offers only ridicule, contempt, and misplaced arrogance.
Ultimately, the GST reform is not just a tax adjustment. It is a statement—that Bharat will stand firm in the face of foreign economic aggression, that its people will not be pawns in petty politics, and that opposition’s arrogance will meet only one response from the people: rejection.
The post B for Bihar, Not Bidi: Congress’ Cheap Shot Backfires Amid GST Wins appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
