The Assam Chambers of Commerce (ACC) and Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Monday jointly staged a protest against the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the BJP-led government in Guwahati along with rest of the country. The protestors demanded the central government to simplify the process of GST.
Talking to the Northeast Now, ACC general secretary Sisir Kalita said, “The centre should simplify the GST process as most of the traders, small businessmen and shopkeepers are still not clear about the process. The GST has affected the retail sector severely.”
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The protestors also opposed the acquisition of Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce company based in Bengaluru by Walmart, an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores recently.
Kalita further said, “We opposed the acquisition of Flipkart by Walmart because there is no provision for FDI in the retail sector in India. The Walmart has entered into the retail sector of India by buying 77 per cent stake in Flipkart. Consequently, the small businessmen have been affected a lot in India.”
Sisir Kalita, while demanding the government to curb the Income Tax paying system, said, “Around three per cent people of the country pays income tax. They have been bearing the burden of 125 crore people of India which is meaningless.”
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The protestors also demanded the government to frame a pension system for the welfare of the businessmen across the country.
The protestors submitted two separate memoranda stating their demands, which were addressed to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro).
Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday criticised the BJP-led central government for implementation of the GST and said, “The GST affected the Indian economy severely.”