Traders oppose govt over GST surveys

Jalandhar industrialists are up in arms against the state government and staged a protest today. Khel Udyog Sanjh members said the government had released orders where GST officials have been given targets to conduct survey of industrial units.

“We are fed up with this. With the set targets, every officer will target the units which is not acceptable at all," claimed Ravinder Dhir, a senior member of the sangh.

The members protested by holding placards which read, “Vyapar nahee te sarkar nahee’, and ‘GST di chaapemaari band karo’.

“Just a few days ago, the GST Department of the state had given the rights of checking to GST inspectors," the members said.

In the meeting organized under the leadership of the convener Vijay Dhir, co-convener Praveen Anand, anger was expressed on these orders. In the meeting, Ravinder Dhir said on the one hand, the Finance Minister of the state says that there is a record-breaking increase in GST revenue and on the other hand, a campaign to harass the business class is going on for the last three years.

“Many departments of the state are after the industry and the industrialists are being harassed in various ways, the law and order in the state has collapsed, business is running at the mercy of God and in such adverse circumstances, if the revenue growth in GST is record-breaking, then the decision to harass the industry, instead of encouraging them, is like rubbing salt on the wounds and it will be opposed," the enraged members said.

This industrial group had recently released helpline numbers. The industrialists has been alleging that they have been facing harassment because of various departments and are finding it difficult to work properly.

Dhir had decided to issue helpline numbers. “If any of our members are harassed by any employee or officer of any department, then they can immediately contact the helpline number and immediate action will be taken,” he had said.

Jalandhar