NL Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 21: A joint press conference was held today by both the Chambers of the State to highlight condition of Cross LoC Trade, harassment by Commercial Taxes Department, delay in SGST Refund to Industry, problems faced by exporters regarding functioning of the Excise and Customs Department.
The respective Presidents Rakesh Gupta and Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad addressed the press conference and were accompanied by representatives of various trade and industry associations including Raghunath Bazar Association, Kanak Mandi Association & Ware House Traders Federation.
Rakesh Gupta stated that it was unfortunate that one of the most important Confidence Building Measures initiated by the then Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan ten years ago, was dying a slow death due to the absence of proper follow-up action. He stated that although both the countries had significantly moved forward with regard to the Kartarpur-Amritsar Corridor, no such forward movement was visible in the case of our State.
Gupta stated that the harassment of traders by the Commercial Taxes Department across the State was a cause of concern and although the Chamber had earlier also objected to it, there seemed to be no let-up in the matter. Gupta stated that the Department was imposing disproportionate penalties and fines on the helpless traders and if the present confrontational policies of the Department continued, the Chambers and business community of the State would be left with no option other than going on indefinite shutdown over the matter.
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad stated that on one hand the State had blocked up huge capital of the industrial sector by not releasing the SGST refunds which had brought the industry on the verge of closure, and on the other hand traders were being targeted on flimsy excuses only to generate revenue collections for the Department. Other prominent persons who were present in the Press Conference include Nasir Hamid Khan, Sr Vice President, KCC&I, Farooq Amin, Secretary General KCC&I, Rajesh Gupta, Sr. Vice President JCCI, Rajeev Gupta Jr. Vice President JCCI, Gaurav Gupta, Secretary JCCI and Ashu Gupta Treasurer JCCI.
