UP: BJP government holds parleys with traders to allay GST concerns

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday initiated an “open dialogue” with traders to address their concerns over the Goods and Services Tax (GST), amid criticism over the hasty roll out of the new tax regime.

The parleys held a day after the Centre announced a slew of relief measures for traders and reduced tax rates on 27 items.

Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma in Lucknow and BJP MPs in their constituencies invited representatives of traders’ bodies over a cup of tea and snacks to explain them various GST provisions and their benefits.

Sharma at the jam-packed conference hall of the commercial tax department in the state capital, assured traders they would not be harassed due to the imposition of the GST.

He also assured that the state government would forward their suggestions and feedbacks to the GST Council for necessary action.

Bringing diesel and petrol under the GST, lowering of tax slabs, tax cut on some goods, relaxation of penalty provisions and simplification of various forms were some of the demands of the traders.

Later, talking to media persons, Sharma said the state government welcomed suggestions from the traders. “We would put them at the next GST Council meeting and try to ensure that their genuine demands are met,” he said.

Asked if the state government agreed to traders’ demand to bring diesel and petrol under the GST regime, he said the state government was neither in favour nor against the demand. “It is for the GST Council to take the final call,” he stressed.

Sharma claimed that the UP’s revenue from the commercial tax post GST had gone up 33% compared to what it got under the VAT regime.

This, he claimed, was the proof that the state’s traders believed in doing business honestly if given facilities.

Identifying himself as a trader’s son, Sharma in the meeting also agreed to raise the accident insurance coverage of traders from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

He asked commercial tax commissioner Mukesh Meshram to send a proposal in this regard to the state government.