Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 1: Maintaining that the J&K has no alternative except to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the State, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the entire nation including PDP and BJP are on the same page over the issue.
Talking to media persons at the sidelines of a function held in connection with Chartered Accountants Day at Gen Zorawar Singh Stadium in University of Jammu this evening, Dr Jitendra Singh said 125 crore people of India are on the same page over the GST issue.
He also denied that the Government has surrendered before separatists over the issue by not implementing the GST in the State when it was implemented in the entire nation during midnight of June 30 and July 1. “There is no surrender from BJP side and all of us must be assured that GST will definitely come as there is no alternative except implementation of a single tax in the entire nation as this grants financial autonomy to the State also”, he said.
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Later addressing the function, the Union Minister also reiterated that State Government has no other option but to go for GST as its implementation is not the concern of political parties and Government but it is concerned to the future of the children of the State. He said within one week the GST will be implemented in J&K also.
He took a dig at those who demanded that J&K should have a blue print for GST saying “why the State will have a blue print as it is the integral part of the India?” He also lashed out at those who apprehend that GST will erode autonomy of the State saying “instead Narendra Modi Government has given financial autonomy to the States so they can’t bluff the youth on this account”.
Ridiculing those who oppose the imposition of GST in the State, Dr Jitendra Singh while quoting Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitely said that NC’s Finance Minister in past had remained the chairman of the Empowered Committee so there is no room for disagreement on the issue.
He said even the smaller parties joined us in support and FICCI-Indian Chamber of Commerce and all other organizations were on board over the issue “so I fail to understand what is the problem with those who oppose it”. Without naming any political party, he said “the reason for this can either be that they want to appease a particular political lobby or are not implementing it on extraneous considerations because they don’t pay tax and want to do it again”.
Strongly advocating for implementation of Central Tax Law in the State, Dr Jitendra Singh, however, said “you can’t escape it as world has become a global village”.
“Those who don’t pay tax or those who want to get posted at Lakhanpur Toll Post to construct a good mansion are feeling problems with implementation of GST”, he added.
He said the State will be given up to Rs 20 lakh exemption in Tax and the problem is only with those who don’t want to pay the tax.
Terming that the GST will be a new thesis subject, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the prices of common goods will decrease under the new Tax law and GST will create Indian Economic Union and later “we can become the part of global economy as well as a manufacturing nation like China.
He termed the midnight of June 30 and July 1 a historic occasion when the function on GST implementation was organized in the Central Hall of Parliament at New Delhi. “Centuries after such occasions come which leave their imprint and become part of history and it was a Sun rise on midnight”, he added.
He said it is not a simple occasion but the Independent India’s most meticulously worked out reform. He said in GST Council decision was taken by 3/4th majority of which 2/3rd majority was from States and every decision was taken with unanimity.
Earlier talking to reporters, Dr Jitendra Singh said that entire world has come round India’s viewpoint on terrorism while responding to declaring United Jihad Council chief and dreaded terrorist Syed Sallahu-ud-Din as global terrorist by US.
He also termed the killing of another dreaded terrorist Bashir Lashkar not only a moral boosting for the troops but for the youth of the State who are fed up with terrorism. He said security forces have been granted freedom by Modi Government to act professionally and the militants are now on run. “The Pakistan stands exposed with Prime Minister’s foreign outreach.”
Senior Chartered Accountant Puneet Aggarwal was the guest speaker who highlighted the benefits of GST in detail and while referring to Prime Minister who called it good and simple tax said “we all have to work hard to make it a good and simple tax now”.
He said earlier there were 40 direct and indirect taxes having many taxation laws which were complicated.
For a trader doing business under these laws was not easy which the GST will make now, he added.
Addressing the function Dr Dipankar Sen Gupta, Professor of Economics JU, said India’s economy is massively integrated with States. He said there were hundreds of taxes and the GST has attempted to eliminate them. With GST India has become a single market.
Senior CA Sudhir Arora, chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India was also on the dais. CA Ajay Kumar Gupta vice chairman also addressed the gathering.
Those who were present included Anish Abrol, Secretary Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Ashwani Khajuria its ex chairman, CA Shalay Razdan and CA Jitender Jaswal Executive Committee members.
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