- We’re ready to face losses but won’t allow implementation of GST in present form: KTMF
- Have decided to stop booking of goods, essentials from outside Valley: Transport Asscn
- GST implementation will trigger another unrest: KEA
Traders and transporters have called for Kashmir bandh on Saturday to protest against implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in J&K saying they will fight “tooth and nail” against the tax bill.
“We are ready to face any losses but won’t allow implementation of GST in the state in its present form,” Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) President, Mohammad Yaseen Khan, said while addressing a press conference, here.
He said the PDP-BJP government was creating confusion to deceive people and create a bad impression over silly remarks.
“We have honestly followed the tax norms and we want to convey to government that we are against the implementation of new tax regime,” Khan said.
He said J&K has a special status and they would not allow any kind of move, which would be disadvantageous for State’s economy.
Khan called for Kashmir bandh tomorrow to protest against the move of the government to implement GST in the State.
The bandh call, he said, has been supported by the traders of Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley.
Khan appealed traders in Valley to support the bandh call. “The traders would protest in Lal Chowk on Saturday against the implementation of GST”.
“We are not against tax but we demand our rights. We will not surrender and won’t allow anybody to do so,” he said.
The KTMF president warned that if GST is implemented, it would snowball into a major controversy and government would be responsible for that.
“The discussions on GST should have happened six months back. We held some meetings with the government and bureaucrats but it was not clear that how special status of the State would be protected,” he said adding, “We won’t allow any erosion of Article 370 even if we die on streets”.
Districts presidents of various trade bodies were also present in the press conference.
“We have no proof or document with us, which says that GST won’t affect the special status,” KTMF president said.
When asked whether they met Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, he said they held meeting with him but they were not satisfied with his statement.
The traders said if the government is sincere, then it should hold discussion with every stakeholder including traders about the GST implementation.
The bandh called by KTMF has been supported by Kashmir Traders Federation, Goods, Transport Association, Fruit Growers Association, Tour and Travel Association, House Boat Association, Mutton Dealers Association and other organisations.
The GST Council has fixed four broad tax slabs under the new GST system 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent.
President Kashmir Traders Federation (KTF), Zahoor Ahmad Budhshah, said government itself is in confusion and takes decisions in hurry.
He said people including traders and transporters are not aware what GST is all about.
“We have section 5 through which amendment would take place but the government has not used that,” Zahoor said.
President of Goods and Carrier Transport Association, Mohammad Sadiq Rango, while addressing the joint press conference, said he was asked by Commercial Tax Department to depute 50 transporters for the counseling about GST.
“When transporters went there, they asked basic questions to resource persons regarding the GST. However, the officials failed to answer their queries,” he said.
Rango said he went to Commissioner Secretary of Tax department to know details about GST but the officials was not in a position to answer his queries.
“So we have decided to stop the booking of goods and essentials from Delhi, Ludhiana, Jalandar, Amritsar, Jammu and from other cities of India,” he said.
Ex-president of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) Sadiq Bakal said they are against implementation of GST in the State.
“People are apprehensive about the law because it was not put in public domain. The government has kept it secret,” he said.
Criticizing implementation of new tax regime in the State, Bakal said, “It is a big conspiracy for hampering Article 370. If GST will not affect fiscal autonomy, then we have no problem with it.”
“We will face bullets but won’t let the government implement it in our state,” he asserted.
Bakal urged traders and transporters to make the strike call a success.
He also urged people to support traders and transporters.
Meanwhile, joint chairman Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Farooq Ahmad Dar while addressing a press conference said GST implementation will trigger another unrest in the Valley.
He said that they will hold sit in Lal Chowk to protest against implementation of the new tax regime.
“The unorganized sector will be badly affected if the GST gets the final nod. GST would be advantageous for Government of India (GoI) but what will happen to the traders, who have suffered,” Dar said.
He alleged that GoI was pushing State’s economy backward.
“Once the GST is implemented, we will have to beg to New Delhi for everything,” Dar said adding, “Government should give people multiple options before implementing the new tax regime”.
“As a Kashmiri and traders, we won’t allow its implementation in the State,” he said.
The traders said there is a need to make a separate model and roadmap for the State so that it won’t snowball into a controversy.
