Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday criticised the State Sales Tax Department for recovering “illegitimate” money on the name of processing fee from the traders in the state.
IJThe party has also warned the state government of holding sit-ins or knocking the doors of the court if it did not stop charging processing fee.
AAP leaders Yamini Gomar and Aman Arora, in a joint press statement, stated that the recovery from the traders is “illegitimate” and asked the alliance partner, BJP, to clarify its stand.
Arora said that every trader has to pay Rs 800 annually for maintaining the accounts of the traders. “In this way, crores of rupees are being looted from the traders who are already overburdened by the various taxes levied by the government,” he said.
He added, “It is really strange to see that the BJP which claims to be trader-friendly party is mum on the issue of trader’s loot by their own government.”
The leaders also demanded government to stop charging processing fee from the traders. “If the government will not stop this illegal act, we will be forced to hold dharnas and even approaching the court,” said the AAP leaders.