<h1>Opposition says nine-slab GST fleeced citizens for eight years, demands apology and fixes for stalled flood relief, power and irrigation</h1> A regional opposition party accused the central government of 'fleecing' citizens over eight years through a complex GST regime with nine tax slabs, claiming reforms were adopted belatedly only after opposition pressure. The party alleged essential goods were unduly taxed and called for an apology, asserting that recent changes reflect its sustained campaigning. It also criticized slow, defective relief and restoration processes after rain and floods, alleging flawed damage assessments by lower revenue staff, delays in comprehensive central relief, non-restoration of power and irrigation affecting paddy crops, and stalled loan-waiver and other farmer relief measures, urging corrective action.