KTMF sets Mar 31 deadline for Govt

Mir Iqbal

SRINAGAR, Mar 12: Lambasting both State and Central Governments for their casual attitude towards the flood affected business community, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) today warned the State Government with dire consequences, in case it fails to compensate them before March 31.
The traders said that they have been seeking rehabilitation and compensation with dignity from last more than six months. However, the Government has taken its repeated pleas for granted, because of which their business remained worst hit.
KTMF President, Mohammad Yasin Khan while addressing a press conference here said that the business community would fight for the cause till they get their due share of compensation. “We have set March 31 deadline before newly formed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Coalition Government and in case it fails to address our issues, we will take tough stand against them,” Khan said, adding, after that Government would be responsible for any untoward situation in the state.
Without disclosing its plans to halt the Government activity after set deadline, Khan elaborated that traders was the largest community of tax payers because of which Government remains functional.
He said a delegation of KTMF met the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC), submitted a detailed memorandum and appraised it about the magnitude of losses suffered by traders, but CSC seems insensitive towards the compensation demand.
The KTMF members also said that they have suffered the loss to the tune of Rs 35000 crore and demanded Rs 10 lakh for each affected shopkeeper and every house that was completely damaged. “We also demanded zero taxation on all our business activities, a full waiver on all taxes including Sales Tax, VAT and Income Tax with immediate effect for at least for 10 years,” they said. “We also demand that there is a need for waiver on bank interests and the traders be granted zero percent interest loans by all banks operating in the state.”
The members appealed Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Prime Minister Narendera Modi to provide compensation to the affected people in a transparent manner.

Follow our WhatsApp channel