Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday welcomed the consensus between various political parties for introducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the country.
At the same time, he said the apprehensions and concerns, voiced by a section of the stakeholders like small traders and businessmen, must be addressed for its smooth and proper implementation.
“We must ensure that the GST is aimed at facilitating all trade and business across the country and convince everybody, particularly the stakeholders that it will not end up as an instrument of harassment against anyone,” said the Congress Deputy leader in the lok Sabha. PPCC president expressed satisfaction over the agreement on 18 per cent cap on the GST, which had been vigorously pursued by the Congress to ensure that the GST does not turn exorbitant in future.
He said while it would bring in uniform tax regime across the country, there had been some concerns expressed by small traders and businessmen that it might end up in their unnecessary harassment.
“During my interactions with people, I came across several stakeholders, particularly the small time traders and businessmen who have certain apprehensions and misgivings about the GST which need to be removed,” he said, while adding, “it is important the actual stakeholders are convinced about its benefits and do not have any doubts and fears about it”.