Rumours and misconceptions are being spread about GST, says Jaitley
LUDHIANA:The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is “very simple”, and several misunderstandings are being spread about this new system, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday.
“Those who follow the law will not be called to office for assessment under the new system. For them, everything, including the returns and assessment orders will be online,” Jaitley said.
But he added that anyone who “tries to be clever” to circumvent the law will face the music.
The minister was addressing a rally after laying foundation stone for new office of the BJP near Gill Road in Ludhiana.
Just as strong rumours and misconceptions were spread when mobile phones were introduced in the market, several misunderstandings are being created about the GST, he added. He said Jammu and Kashmir has also accepted GST in the financial interests of the state.
On terrorism, Jaitley said the BJP was the only party that openly condemned the terrorism, while there were some parties who did not mind using objectionable words against the army that was fighting a battle on the front for security of the country.
Earlier, Jaitley hand over 18,000 toilets to beneficiaries from the Ludhiana district at Sat Paul Mittal School, Ludhiana. These toilets were constructed by Bharti Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Lauding the efforts of the group and district administration, Jaitley said: “On similar lines, where corporates are required to pay 2% of earning for social causes, every private and public sector enterprise must contribute to construct toilets to ensure open defecation-free state. The noble cause of introducing toilets has contributed to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.”
Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, also present at the function, lauded the efforts of the foundation and said these will go long way in addressing issuing plaguing the development of the state.
Jaitley also met executive members of the Bharti Kisan Union who expressed concern over levying of the GST on farm machinery and pesticides. The members submitted a memorandum to the finance minister and sought exemption from GST on farm equipment.
Harinder Lakhowal, secretary of BKU, Punjab, said, “The farmers are already burdened with debt and loan waivers by government are not been extended to the affected farmers. Now, the GST has increased prices of farm inputs.”