The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kashmir, (CCIK) today termed the government claims of reducing the GST rates on handicraft items and bringing relief to small traders a “brazen attempt to pull a fast one and confuse the people of the state in general and the business community in particular”.
This was stated by CCIK secretary general Mauzam Bakshi after a meeting of the chamber. “While analysing the press statement as well as the official notification, experts have found that no reduction in the tax rates of Kashmir handicrafts has been approved by the GST council as claimed and propagated except for only a portion of paper mache items, which have been brought down to 5 per cent tax slab,” he added.
The CCIK reminded the Finance Minister of his assurances, made from time to time, of bringing all handicraft goods under the zero per cent tax slab.
“On August 3, he had categorically stated that the tax immunity enjoyed by the industry in the previous indirect taxation system in J&K will continue under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime. Similarly, the Finance Minister had assured of getting exemption from the GST for walnut industry that is facing hard times because of the stiff competition with Californian and Chinese walnuts in the market. Now, he has changed his stance…,” Bakshi added.
He said the CCIK was amazed to read ‘self-glorifying statements’ by the Finance Minister while asserting that ‘the fact remains that the state government had been made to beg for what was in their own hands’.
GST ‘Rollback’ attempt to confuse people: Industry
