Winding-up liquor mafia, ending “raid-raj”, introducing incentives to “revive” trade and industry, transparent tax regime, “lower” tax rates, eliminating “sand mafia” are some of the poll promises the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made with the Punjab’s trade, industry and transport sectors ahead of the high-octane 2017 polls.
Party’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday released the party’s 21-point poll manifesto for Trade, Industry and Transport sectors at ludhiana — days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the State’s industrial town. The party has already unveiled its poll document for the youth and farmers.
Among other things, the party promised setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to unearth alleged collection of “goonda tax” through SAD-BJP and Congress collusion.
AAP has also promised to revive the sick units in Mandi Gobindgarh, ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Batala, Pathankot, Nangal, Bathinda and all other industrial towns through a series of measures including two-year tax holiday, special package to bring back industry that had “fled” the state, 10-year tax holiday for agro-based food processing industry and five-year tax holiday for women to encourage women entrepreneurs.
Besides, AAP promised that trade, industry and transport sectors will be made “corruption free”, ‘inspector Raj’ and ‘raid Raj’ will be eliminated and no alleged “goonda tax” will be allowed to be imposed in the state.
It vowed to dismantle alleged “liquor mafia” and replacing the same with an alternative system that provides equal opportunity and generates employment, while ending the “control of politicians and their henchmen” in the liquor business.
The manifesto also promised to implement self-certification regime for all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and consents in businesses.
“Tax regime will be simplified and made transparent while VAT (value added tax) and other taxes will be reduced on Delhi pattern. In five years, Punjab will have the lowest tax rate, one time settlement of pending tax related cases and VAT refund will be expedited,” it stated.
“In order to end alleged harassment of ‘rehriwalas’ and ‘fariwallahs’, spaces will be earmarked in every city for creation of rehri markets and week-end flea markets,” it added.
Manifesto also promised to reduce the electricity tariff substantially “by nailing corruption and enabling optimum efficiency of systems” while anti-Punjab power agreements with private power plants will be reviewed and those responsible for burdening the people of the state will be punished.
Announcing to “depoliticise” the transport sector, AAP announced that its government, after coming to power, “will snatch bus permits from the Badals, top politicians of the SAD-BJP, Congress and others who have (allegedly) procured them through fraudulent means and will be given to unemployed youth, ex-servicemen, handicapped persons, terrorist victims, and victims of 1984 anti-Sikh violence”.
“Trucking will be freed of corruption and harassment by DTOs and Police through unnecessary checking of vehicles will cease within two weeks of forming the government,” it said adding that control of politicians in truck unions will be ended.
It added that there will be elimination of alleged “reta-bajri (sand and gravel)” mafia in Punjab and mining licences will be given to young entrepreneurs.
AAP promises to regularise unauthorised colonies and providing all basic facilities including sewerage within a mandated period. Real Estate sector to be revived by a series of incentives, review of stamp duty, EDC, ClU, and other charges, the party added.
The party also promised to come up with a comprehensive real estate policy that will also take care of haphazard development. “A comprehensive real estate policy will review distortion of master plans and revive the housing sector in consultation with all stakeholders,” read the document.
It added, “Uniformity in regulations and coordination between all government development agencies, like PUDA, GlADA, GMADA, Improvement Trusts, Municipal Corporations etc. will be ensured.”
If voted to power, AAP planned to kickstart industrial revival, un-utilised lands in under-developed industrial estates, allotting growth centres and focal points to industry at affordable rates or lease.
The party also announced that heavy “toll tax” charged by private companies in collusion with Akali-BJP, Congress politicians will be “investigated, reviewed and rationalised”. “No toll plazas on roads other than highways. Will press for removal of all toll plazas of NHAI on Jalandhar-Amritsar and Ropar-Anandpur Sahib section due to their status as holy cities in accordance with the Centre's policy to remove selective toll plazas,” read the manifesto.
AAP vowed to protect the small retailers from FDI in retail and mega malls. “A special cell will look into complaints of harassment of and extortion from rice sheller owners, arhtiyas (commission agents), jewellers, and small retailers by food inspectors, police, taxation officials etc,” it said.
In another announcement, it said that religious, heritage and industrial tourism will be encouraged with liberal tax incentives to hotels and related industry, while exhibition halls would be set up in ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala in PPP-mode.
AAP promised social security for tax-paying small and medium businessmen and traders who suffer losses and face insolvency.
“While there will be zero-toleration on food adulteration, systems will be put in place to check unfair harassment of retailers. Testing laboratories for food safety will be set up in all districts,” it added.