J&K traders protest against toll tax despite GST
Traders allege toll tax is against spirit of newly- introduced Goods and Services Tax in the state.
Jammu: Hitting out at the PDP-BJP government for "double taxation" in J&K, traders of Jammu on Wednesday staged a demonstration here demanding immediate rollback of the toll tax, alleging "it is against the spirit of the newly- introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime".
Various associations, under the banner of Chamber of Traders Federation, assembled at Purani Mandi in the old city to protest against toll tax, which is levied at several places in the state, despite the 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 GST, we came forward and lent our support to the government for the one-nation-one-tax initiative, despite opposition from the Valley," president of the Chamber of Traders Federation, Neeraj Anand, said.
Alleging that the GST has failed to provide any sort of relief to people and traders, he said there is "no infrastructure" to file GST returns.
He demanded doing away with the toll tax and setting up proper infrastructure before September 23 - the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh - and threatened with "consequences" if their demands are not met.