Lucknow, Sept. 4 -- Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Thursday welcomed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, calling it a "big and historic step."

"On August 15, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi had announced this, and it was fulfilled within 18 days. The GST Council has prepared a new slab... GST has been reduced on many products. GST on health insurance and life insurance has been made zero... This is a big and historic step towards making India self-reliant. We should not import, but export, and all the needs of our country should be met by products manufactured in our country. I welcome this decision and thank the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister," Maurya told ANI.

He furth...