APPEALS TO FINANCE MINISTER OF INDIA TO DEFER THE INCREASE
CHANDIGARH: A meeting of GST Coordination Committee of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) was held in which members opposed the increase of GST from 5% to 12% on Fabrics, Readymade Garments and Foot wears up to the value of Rs.1000/-.
Ram Karan Gupta, Chairman, GST Coordination Committee, CBM said that traders dealing in the Readymade Garments, Foot Wears and Fabrics are apprehensive of further slowing of business after such increase
Charanjiv Singh, President, CBM said that a letter has been sent to the Smt. Nirmala Sitaraman, Finance Minister of India urging him to defer notification in the tomorrow’s GST Council meeting as increased prices of these items will disturb the budget of middle class who are already suffering because of high inflation.
Diwakar Sahoonja, Patron, CBM said that with the fear of Corona third wave looming large the restricted shopping hours or lockdown will further make viability of running businesses impossible especially for traders dealing in above products due to reduced margins and slowdowns
Sanjeev Chadha, Gen. Secy., CBM said that there should not be any increase imposition of GST as clothing or fabric being an essential item for Middle and Lower Class citizens and it had been Tax Free items during Sales Tax and Vat regime.
CBM appealed to the Govt that this Notification No.14/2021 dated 18th November, 2021 may be deferred in tomorrow’s meeting. However if the increase in GST rates is implemented, CBM may also resort to agitation on call of respective trade associations merchant and join the nationwide protest as are being done in some other States of India.