Just one and half month of implementation of GST in the Country and this Hill State, BJP Member of Parliament and son of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Anurag Thakur pleaded to keep the small traders and business community out of its ambit. In a press statement issued today, Mr. Thakur urged Chief Minister, Mr. Virbhadra Singh, to increase the limit to Rs. 20 lakh for the benefit of small traders. The GST Act emphasized that all traders and business men having the maximum limit of turnover above Rs 10 lakh in Himachal Pradesh would be covered under the taxes however this limit is above 20 lakh in big states.
The MP claimed that increasing of the turnover limit would give respite to the state business community who otherwise have to pay additional taxes. The BJP MP accepted that GST was affecting the trader badly and they need to be given some respite. ”For the benefit of business community as the GST bill has fixed the maximum limit of turnover of them about 10 lakh should be increased to Rs 20 lakh”‘ he demanded. In wake of upcoming Assembly elections and increasing unrest among the community could prove fatal to the party however the BJP is trying to project the GST regime as biggest tax reform in the Country after the independence.
Mr. Thakur interventions should be seen as damage control exercise however the clause mentioned to levy GST from such traders likely needs amendment in the State GST bill. However the press statement claimed that Prime Minister & Central Government had already extended this tax exemption till March 2027 for industries in State should be extended to the business community. Anurag Thakur also wrote to the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on increasing the limit. Mr Thakur claimed that traders are disappointment with State Government for not taking up the matter with GST Council.
The traders of Himachal Pradesh also pressing to bring some essential commodities like milk, lentils, jaggery and sugar with tax slab of one percent. It is worthwhile to mention here that GST bill was passed by the State Assembly unanimously and the Opposition BJP joined the treasury benches without giving any amendment during the special session convened before its implementation.
