Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: State unit of BJP, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) J&K State Council and Dogra Sadar Sabha have welcomed the implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST) in the J&K State and termed it as a step in the right direction.
BJP celebrated the introduction of Goods and Services Tax in the State by dancing on the tunes of traditional Dhol. The celebrations were led by State vice-presidents, Parmod Kapahi and Moti Koul and State general secretary Harinder Gupta at the party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, here.
Gupta, while speaking on the occasion, said that introduction of GST in the State will help in boosting the financial status of the State by increasing the revenue. He said that it will also benefit the trade and industry as well as the residents of the State particularly keeping in mind that this border State is a consumer state. He said that the GST is one of the biggest fiscal reforms in India since Indian Independence and it will result in the decrease of the price of maximum essential commodities used by the common masses.
While addressing the party activists, Gupta slammed the State Congress for playing double standards on the introduction and passage of GST in the state. He also made a reference to the news item in which Congress has described the day of passage of resolution of GST bill as the black day in the history of Jammu & Kashmir. He asked the Jammu based Congress leaders to clear their stand and stop playing with sentiments of the public.
Sanjay Baru, Aseem Gupta, Ghulam Ali Khatana, Arun Gupta, SS Bijral, Arvind Gupta, Jaidev Rajwal, Varinder Jit Singh, Baldev Singh Billawaria, Kulbhushan Mahotra, Surinder Bhagat, TN Bhat, Vinay Gupta, Shailja Gupta, Sonia Gupta, Neeru Anand, Govind Sareen, Dr Pardeep Mahotra, Jeet Angral and others were also present on the occasion.
Commenting on the implementation of GST in Jammu & Kashmir, Rahul Sahai, chairman, CII J&K State Council stated, ” We have entered today into a new era of economic reform -with the introduction of the game-changing GST. This will stand as an exemplary collaborative reform on unprecedented scale.”
Mr Sahai complimented Chief Minister, Finance Minister and other members of the GST Council who brought together all stakeholders for implementing this transformational new policy and making GST a reality for the people of the State.
Saddam Zaroo, vice chairman, CII J&K State Council said GST will contribute to ease of doing business and accelerate new business ventures. “GST imparts significant competitiveness to Indian industry, thereby boosting the inherent potential of the economy to raise incomes, add to the formal economy and incentivise exports. GST also helps expand the tax net. Above all, it gives us tremendous confidence that the Government will continue to facilitate investments and simplify the business environment.”
President Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) and former minister Gulchain Singh Charak. held consultations with the DSS Core Group and representatives of traders, industrialists, whole sellers, retailers, journalists, social activists and labbour organizations, economists and financial experts across the State. Barring a few businessmen and politicians from Kashmir, each one of them welcomed the application of the new GST regime in the J&K State.
During meeting the members DSS brought out that the daily wagers who buy ration on daily basis were hard hit due to shortages in supply line. Markets gave a deserted look. Industries reached a point of closure in absence of raw material, supplies, forced Industrial lockouts could lead to unemployment. Some larger industrial groups were planning to move out of the State due to such uncertainty. Members pointed out that all this avoidable suffering was imposed on the State while the concept of GST and its implementation has been accepted by the State Government.
Members projected that with the implementation of GST, the Toll Tax should be abolished and services tax not levied in J&K. The facilities, concession and incentives to tourism and industries now in vogue must continue and revised from time to time. The members felt that the conditions in the Kashmir Valley are getting bad to worst with losses of lives on almost daily basis.
On the GST bill, the Sabha members exhorted traders to use restrain and ensure that the situation is not exploited by unscrupulous profit mongering to ensure that the common man does not suffer.
Among others the following senior members also expressed their views during the meeting. They included Maj Gen (Retd) G S Jamwal, Col Karan Singh Jamwal (Retd), Ghulam Ahmed Khawaja , Brig (Retd) MS Jamwal, Col (Retd) Virender Kumar Sahi, S Peter, Kuldip Wahi and Syed Amanat Ali Shah.
Meanwhile, the implementation of GST in J&K State is warmly welcome by various business organizations in Kathua district . Industrialist Units Association Kathua welcome the GST and said that industry will get boost due to it. General secretary of the Association , Sandeel Mittal said that the GST will give free and fair atmosphere to the industrial sector and the manufacturer will become free from various taxes. He said the State revenue will also be increased and consumer get cheap items after the implementation of GST.
The Kathua Truck Operators Union , president Ranjit Singh has also welcome the GST and thanked the Legislators for supporting the GST. He said the transporter s would also get much relief from various taxes . He hoped that Toll tax at Lakhanpur will also be stopped.
Follow our WhatsApp channel