New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) The apex body of traders association Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written a letter to the President of Congress Sonia Gandhi urging her to support GST so that the much awaited tax reform in the country should see light of the day.

The letter has accused Congress of adopting double standard stating that on jewellers’ issue it was pro-active but on GST issue it did not bother to consult the traders so far. The CAIT has decided to launch a nationwide aggressive protest campaign on GST which will include various protests against all such parties who are opposing GST. The CAIT would convene a meeting of its National Governing Council on forthcoming 20-21 June at New Delhi to finalise future course of action on GST.

”We cannot wait for an indefinite period for roll out of GST and being one of the prime carriers of taxation system we cannot be a mute spectator anymore and enjoy every right to intervene in the matter and seek early implementation of GST in India. We want GST to be passed in next session of the Parliament at any cost"-said CAIT National President  B.C.Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal.

Meanwhile the CAIT has decided to meet leaders of all political parties urging them to support GST whereas it will send memorandum to Chief Ministers of all States. The protest campaign will include protest march, burning of effigies of the leaders opposing GST, protest rally. A Bharat Bandh in protest against lethargic attitude of the political parties is also not ruled out by CAIT.

​​​In its communication to Sonia Gandhi, CAIT said that ​​the roadblocks are giving a dismal picture of such an important tax reform in the Country which has become more of a political battle rather than a tax reform.

“We understand that scoring of political points is an essential ingredient of democratic system but tax reform like GST m​​ust be kept much above of any political agenda. We are constrained to note that in matter of GST, the polity has failed to pass litmus test,” said CAIT.​

Taking a jibe at ​ Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi​, the CAIT said that Rahul Gandhi​ took a suo-motto cognizance ​of the recent strike by jeweller’s fraternity on matter of excise and even attended trader's rally for which the traders expressed their gratitude.

“But we are sorry ​to​ note that on issue of GST, which is crucial to traders, the Congress party has not​ come out with similar spirit in​ ​engaging​​ with trade so far​ to elicit their view point​. It would have been better if efficiency shown on jewelers issue could have been applied on GST might ​have fetched laurels.​ It speaks how serious the Congress party is about this important issue,” the traders’ apex body added.​

It also said that it​ is a known fact that the trade & industry is subject to multiple taxation & multiple authorities making the tax administration more complex.  Subsuming of various Central & State level taxes in GST will simplify & rationalise tax structure and will make compliance more easy and will also offload stakeholders from much paperwork. However, the stalling of GST Bill has vitiated our hopes to a great extent.

“It is pertinent to mention that we also have our own concerns about proposed GST but stalling of passage of GST Bill in Parliament, is depriving us from the opportunity of being heard since after passing of the Bill in Parliament, the process of separate legislation for Central GST (CGST), Integrated GST (IGST) will be tabled in Parliament and State GST (SGST) will be passed by State legislatures and such time will give an opportunity to the stakeholders to submit their concerns,” said CAIT. ​ (KNN Bureau)