<h1>Minister Urges Parties to Avoid Politicizing GST, Stresses Long-term Economic Benefits Despite Short-term Challenges.</h1> Union Urban Development Minister urged political parties to refrain from politicizing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), emphasizing its long-term economic benefits despite potential short-term negative impacts on inflation and GDP. He reassured that only tax evaders should be concerned about GST and encouraged public patience for future gains. He highlighted the 16-year effort to implement GST, originating from Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. Addressing Dehradun's Smart City project, he noted it requires five to ten years for implementation, with funding contingent on urban reforms. The government allocated Rs. 10,000 crore for urban reform, introducing credit ratings to encourage improvements.