Amid the ongoing protest by textile traders in Haryana over the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime from July 1, the MlAs of opposition parties on Wednesday gave a miss to the one-day seminar on GST organised by BJP-led Government for MlAs and senior bureaucrats.
While Chief Minister Manohar lal, his Cabinet Ministers and BJP MlAs were present at the seminar held at CII headquarters here, all MlAs of Congress and Indian National lok Dal stayed away from the Government’s event.
The textile traders in Haryana had a day before joined the nationwide three days strike against the implementation of the GST regime and closed down their business for the 72 hours. The cloth markets remained closed in various parts of Haryana including Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Panipat, Mahendragarh among other districts.
The textile traders are protesting against the Centre’s decision to levy 5 per cent goods and services tax (GST) on textiles and 12 per cent on readymade garments.
Both Congress and INlD leaders have lent their support to the textile traders and have made an appeal to the Central Government to make amendments in the provisions of GST to redress the grievances of various sections of the society.
When asked about the absence of opposition MlAs at the seminar, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar, while talking to the mediapersons said that the all MlAs were invited for the event.
About the seminar, he said that suggestions of all the participants were taken during the event and would be sent to the GST council. The experts at the seminar responded to the queries of MlAs and other participants on GST, he added.
During the seminar, some of the MlAs raised concerns of textile traders over the GST regime and made an appeal to redress the grievances of the traders.
Khattar made it clear that the advent of GST is not going to adversely affect the business of textile as being made out. He elaborated that textile has been placed in the slab of 5 per cent under GST and full input tax credit of the tax paid on intermediate goods shall be allowed.
The Chief Minister also expressed the hope that all the departments are fully geared up to meet requirements of GST. He also called upon the Administrative Secretaries and Head of the Departments to be fully prepared to meet the obligations cast upon by GST in case something remains to be done.
He added there are about ten lakh job opportunities for the computer literates.
Speaking at the seminar, Finance and Excise and Taxation Minister, Capt. Abhimanyu said that he has raised several issues concerning the industries of the State before the GST Council and in case if any issue arises in future, he would definitely raise it in the interest of the State.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary, Excise and Taxation Department Sanjeev Kaushal gave a detailed presentation of GST. He said Haryana has been a leading State in terms of tax reforms in the country.