The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), at a two-day conference held in Puri recently, called upon all political parties to provide support for the smooth passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the Parliament.
The conference chaired by CAIT national president BC Bhartia was attended by 200 trade leaders from 24 States.
The apex body of the country’s trading community adopted a resolution calling upon political parties to support the GST. The leaders expressed deep concern over delay in GST while holding political fraternity responsible for it. “Roadblocks are being created by political fraternity. Political considerations have dominated economic reforms in the country which is not justified,” opined trade leaders.
They said GST assumes much significance for traders as it is expected to relieve them from multiple taxes and multiple authorities. They too called upon Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to open straight dialogue with traders on GST since the trading community has its various concerns on GST.
Attending the conference, State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma said trading community is the backbone of economy and development of any State, and as such deserve due recognition by the Government. He said the traders should also discharge their due obligations to society by collecting revenue for the Government in a fair manner.
Among others, CAIT national vice president Brij Mohan Agrawal, State president PC Nayak, general secretary Byabashee Mahasangh and working president Sudhakar Panda were present.
“We will oppose any move to bring FDI in retail and e-commerce sectors tooth and nail,” they said, informing that the CAIT has urged upon Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to formulate a State Trade Policy for retail trade and a separate Ministry of Internal Trade at State level to ensure and monitor structured growth of trade in Odisha.
In a separate resolution, the Confederation requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formulate a National Trade Policy for retain trade and a separate Ministry of Internal Trade at the Centre.
Puri Govardhan Peeth Shankracharya Nischalanand Saraswati while addressing the conference strongly condemned soft move to allow multinational companies to enter into retail trade in the country. He opined that entry of MNCs in this sector will culminate in economic slavery. “There is an urgent need to protect not only trade but also our ancient cultural, heritage and social ecosystem from the hands of MNCs,” said the Shankaracharya.