Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Disapproving of the recent doings of the Sales Tax Department, Chamber of Traders’ Federation (CTF) Jammu said such market interventions only promote “Inspector Raj” and is against the spirit of GST.
Addressing a press conference here today, Neeraj Anand, president CTF and vice president, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said CTF has received complaints from various member organizations seeking intervention of Governor Satya Pal Malik to prevent further harassment of trade/business community.
Click here to watch video
“Business today is in transformation stage where practices and platforms have changed drastically and the effect of demonetization, GST ,FDI in retail is well felt, making survival of traditional trade a challenging task,” said Neeraj while urging the department concerned to be pragmatic in its approach while dealing with genuine dealers.
In our society people normally infer that if men in police uniform survey business establishments, such establishment must have done some crime, thus tarnishing the image of the business house cultivated over decades as such Sales Tax Department should desist from indulging in such practices.
Neeraj also dwelled upon how technical issues are being used by certain officials to harass poor illiterate dry fruit growers from Kashmir valley who send their produce on–sale-basis to Jammu Fruit Mandi.
If an e-way bill is to be generated why not it be enforced during 300 kilometer stretch why to harass the dealer/grower when the vehicle reaches Jammu, said Neeraj while arguing for opening more facilitation Centers to take care of dry fruit growers/dealers.
He also urged the department to increase checking in “grey markets” to rein in unscrupulous dealers who adopt questionable ways to import goods from neighboring states by railways/couriers or source goods from big modern trade chains like Walmart, Best Price and on cash in different names thus depriving the State of legitimate revenue earnings.
Neeraj said CTF always represents tax compliant dealers and maintained that continuation of Toll Tax on goods has given dealers from other states an edge over the genuine registered dealer of the State and in the bargain the State is also losing on revenue. “We have given various representations to all concerned and would soon be seeking a meet with Governor to discuss the alarming situation of trade in the State”, he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
