The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jammu (CCIJ) today demanded immediate roll back of toll tax at Lakhapur, saying the levy is against the purpose of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The imposition of the toll tax at Lakhapur inter-state toll plaza by the Jammu and Kashmir government defeats the slogan 'one nation one tax', CCIJ President Rakesh Gupta said today.
Gupta, who chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the problems being faced by business community post implementation of GST in the state especially with the continuation of toll tax atLakhanpur, said that an urgent communication has been sent to Chander Parkash Ganga, Minister for Industries and Commerce, J-K government in this regard.
The CCIJ has demanded immediate roll back of toll tax by the government, he said.
The toll tax at Lakhanpur is defeating the slogan 'one nation one tax', he said.
"We have been made to understand that the state government is continuing with the imposition of toll tax at Lakhanpur on the pretext that products being manufactured by the industries in the state be made competitive and sold easily," he said.
CCIJ President said, "We request your good-selves to provide us with the list of such products that are sensitive for the industries at the earliest as we feel the government is trying to carry on with the toll tax policy under some excuses which are not a reality."
"We further feel that it is the common man who is bearing the brunt of any such taxes levied in addition to the GST and the government cannot levy any other tax in addition to the GST as the revenue of the state has already increased under the GST regime," he said.
Hitting out at the state's BJP-PDP government for double taxation, traders of Jammu yesterday staged a demonstration here, demanding immediate roll back of toll tax saying "it is against the spirit of newly introduced Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime".
Various business associations assembled under the banner of Chamber of Traders Federation at Purani Mandi in old city and held a protest against the toll tax at several places including Lakhanpur despite implementation of the new regime on July 8.
"The main purpose for staging this protest was to seek an end to the practice of toll tax. At the time of implementation of the new tax regime, we came forward and lend our support to the government for the one nation one tax initiative despite opposition from Kashmir valley," President Chamber of Traders Federation Neeraj Anand said.
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