JCCI, KCCI allege harassment from CT Deptt, warn indefinite agitation

Heads of JCCI, Rakesh Gupta and KCCI, Sheikh Ashiq addressing joint press conference in Jammu on Friday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Heads of JCCI, Rakesh Gupta and KCCI, Sheikh Ashiq addressing joint press conference in Jammu on Friday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 21: Alleging harassment from the Commercial Taxes Department to the business community, continuous discouragement to the cross LoC traders and deliberate delay being caused in the refund of SGST to the Industrialists, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), today warned the Government to launch indefinite agitation across the State, if their issues were not resolved by the authorities.
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Addressing a joint press conference at the Chamber House here today, presidents of both the Chambers, Rakesh Gupta (JCCI) and Sheikh Ashiq Ahmed (KCCI), launched scathing attack on the officials of Commercial Taxes Department (CT Deptt) for deliberately harassing and victimizing the traders. They said before the launch of GST, the top officials of the department had assured the traders community during various interactions to help and assist the traders for at least 1-2 years, so that they are made aware while switching over to new system of taxation. But it is unfortunate that inspite of helping them, the Babus of the CT Department have started harassing and imposing heavy penalties on the traders even for the minor default. Their premises are being raided just to defame them and vehicles are stopped at Lakhanpur and even en-route and detained there for couple of days. Even the exporters of the state are being victimized on flimsy grounds. They warned the authorities to avoid such tactics and create conducive and positive atmosphere of trade in the State.
Referring to the issues of Cross LoC traders, heads of both the Chambers said that such measures were taken by the Governments of both the countries as Confidence Building Measures (CBM) and trade routes between Srinagar-Muzaffrabad and Poonch- Rawlakote were opened about decade back. 25 items were approved for trade but unfortunately hardly 5-6 items are now being traded. No initiative is being taken to resolve pending trade issues on both sides by organizing meetings and the trade is being allowed to die a slow death. These traders are being discouraged by the authorities. PoK traders delegation visited this side of J&K but delegation from this side was not allowed during last 10 years to visit on that side. They said although both the countries had significantly moved forward with regard to Kartarpur-Amritsar corridor, no such move was visible in case of J&K state.
Gupta and Sheikh further said that for the minor faults, huge penalties are being imposed on the businessmen but in case of default on the part of Government departments, there is no binding at all. The industrialists have been denied SGST refund for the last about one year while as per guidelines/ norms the authorities are bound to release the same within 21 days. There is no accountability on their part. With such negative and dictatorial policies of the Govt, the traders and industrialists are being harassed and victimized. The industry has reached at the verge of closure. They demanded package to the J&K industry on the pattern of North- East. They further demanded that exemption of e-way bill limit should be raised from existing Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakhs.
The heads of both the Chambers, warned the State authorities to hold discussion with them and resolve these vital issues, otherwise, entire trading community will be forced to resort to the agitational path.
Several office bearers of both the Chambers including, Nasir Hamid Khan, Rajesh Gupta, Farooq Amin, Rajeev Gupta, Gaurav Gupta and Ashu Gupta were also present.

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