Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 6: Chamber of Traders Federation (CTF) today resented the ways adopted by the Sales Tax Department to unleash ‘Inspector Raj’ in disguise of ‘sale monitoring mechanism’ and asked the authorities to refrain from harassing the traders.
Addressing media persons during a protest demonstration here, Neeraj Anand, CTF President said the recent dictatorial and mindless order of Commercial Taxes department to depute inspectors for monitoring daily sales by small business houses were aimed at creating unrest in business community and harassing the genuine tax payers.
“It is highly objectionable and disgusting that the officers of Sales Tax Department, without applying their mind and understanding the sensitivities of the issue, uploaded an order on social media wherein they deputed some inspectors to check the daily sales of small business houses in Jammu region. Through such order, the Sales Tax Department has tried to malign the image of traders by pointing the finger of suspicion without any substantial evidences,” the CTF Chief said.
Anand said the Sales Tax Department has virtually declared traders culprit without giving them a chance of clearing their position which is not tolerable at any cost. “It seems to be an attempt of some vested interests in Sales Tax Department to encourage corrupt practices through such arbitrary orders,” even festive and religious sentiments related to Eid were also ignored he said.
“There are certain officers, acting as black sheep in the Sales Tax department, who are trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of Jammu region on the diktats of their masters who need to be identified,” he demanded.
The CTF President urged the Governor Satya Pal Malik to personally look into the matter as the issue has the potential to create trouble in the region.
He demanded that the Governor should immediately direct the Sales Tax Department to refrain from harassing the traders henceforth and warned the corrupt officers of the department that any undue pressure on traders will have serious repercussions.
Attar Singh, Patron CTF, Bodh Raj, President Dhaba Association Jammu Province, Pt Nek Ram, President, Halwai Association, Shiv Gupta , President Bakers Association, Praveen Gupta, President, Jammu Fruit Association, Sanjay Jandyal, Nanak Nagar Traders Association, Sanjay Gupta, Gole Market Association among other prominent trade heads were present during the protest.
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