The state unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party today termed the annual Budget for the upcoming financial year as "anti-industry" and said all the expectations of the sector were dashed to ground.
"There were high expectations among the trade as well as Industry sector, but all dashed to ground after the opening of briefcase by (Finance Minister) Abdul Rahim Rather in the State Assembly on Wednesday," BJP State Incharge Sat Sharma and party's Trade and Industry Cell State Convener, Choudhary Vikram Randhawa, said in joint statement here.
Pointing out at the pre-Budget meeting between Rather and various industrial organisations here, BJP leaders said that a unanimous demand of extension in VAT remission for five years was made but it was ignored.
Another demand was to scrap 22 per cent electricity duty, as the industry has been paying the tariff from time to time and hence there was no justification of electricity duty, they added.
The duo also raised the issue of 13.5 per cent Entry Tax on spare parts of various industries and also took strong exception to the increase of five paisa per kg in the existing rate of Toll Tax.
"It is indeed unfortunate that despite assurances by the Finance Minister himself in the pre-Budget meeting, not even a single demand has been fulfilled.
"The budget is totally anti-Industry and BJP Trade and Industry Cell oppose it tooth and nail and stands with the traders and industrialists," the two said.
