Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: To discuss the alleged unilateral decision of State Finance Department on VAT deposits and returns, a meeting of all the associations of business and industries, affiliated to the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jammu, was convened here today at the Chamber House.
All the presidents and secretaries of the associations of bazaars and industries from Jammu attended the meeting and extended support to the CCI for any call or action against the controversial SROs, issued by the Finance Department.
The president CCI Jammu, Rakesh Gupta said that the SROs, issued by the Finance Department not only harm the interests of business community of Jammu province but also their counterparts in Kashmir province who have been indirectly hit by the recent floods, like the businessmen in Jammu.
Pertinent to mention that as per the SROs, time relaxation for filing VAT returns has been given to only those dealers whose record has been lost due to floods. The Jammu traders, who have been indirectly hit by the floods due to blockage of their payments, which was to be received in lieu of the goods supplied in Kashmir, have not been given any relaxation by the Finance Department.
During the meeting, Rakesh Gupta assured the business community, including traders, industrialists and hoteliers that their demand of extension in time for VAT returns was based on logic and question of backtracking over the issue does not arise.
He informed that the CCI would consult the senior members, eminent persons and also the Ministers, MLAs, MLCs from Jammu province before a taking a final decision over the further course of action for safe guarding the interests of business community of the State.
Reacting strongly to the statement given by the Finance Department in a section of media, saying that the business community has collected VAT from public and they shouldn’t ask for retaining this money for three more months, the CCI president warned the concerned department not to issue defamatory statements without knowing the facts and figures. “The Finance Department should pay all the money, amounting thousands of crores of rupees, that has been blocked post floods and then issue such statement,” he added.
Meanwhile, highly placed sources in the Finance Department told the Excelsior that the State Government was conscious of the feelings of Jammu businessmen over the issue of VAT returns and the matter is likely to be discussed soon with the Finance Minister for a way out.
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