On the 2nd anniversary of GST implementation in Jammu and Kashmir, a large number of traders under the banner of Traders Federation Ware House/Nehru Market Jammu, held a protest demonstration in demand of abolition of Lakhanpur Toll Tax. The protest was held under the leadership of Federation president, Rattan Lal Gupta and general secretary, Deepak Gupta, who along with other traders also sat on dharna in front of main gate of Ware House. Expressing strong resentment over non-abolition of Toll Tax at Lakhanpur despite implementation of GST (Goods and Services Tax) from July 8, 2017 in the State, the traders has reiterated their demand to abolish Toll Tax at Lakhanpur. Deepak Gupta, general secretary of Traders Federation said that GST was introduced with the slogan of ‘One Nation One Tax’. He regretted that it did not see the light of the day in the State even after two years. “The State Government is imposing toll tax on goods at Lakhanpur entry point into J&K despite imposition of GST. This is simply double taxation. In case of non-abolition of toll tax, the trading community will be forced to come to the roads,” he added. “We had totally supported the J&K Government draft on the GST with all special powers intact only on the assumption that toll tax on goods shall be kept away from the purview of powers enjoyed under Section 5 of the J&K’s Constitution. But our hopes have been belied,” he said. He said that Rs 800-900 crores on the name of State Toll Tax is being collected at Lakhanpur, which at the end of the day is being paid by the common man living in the State. “Collection of State Toll Tax at Lakhanpur has resulted in huge increase of transportation cost, hardship to drivers and cleaners, inflation and above all a den of corruption,” he said, adding it is the common man who is bearing the brunt of any such taxes levied in addition to the GST. The trader fraternity appealed Governor Satya Pal Malik to take the matter seriously and asked the concerned department to stop toll tax on all items at Lakhanpur Toll Plaza immediately. Dheeraj Gupta, senior vice-president, Traders Federation Ware House-Nehru Market, Munish Mahajan, vice-president, Abhimanyu Gupta, secretary and Vishal Gupta, cashier were also present in the protest.
