Expressing her strong reservations over the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1, 2017 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that this “unnecessary disastrous hurry is another epic blunder of the Centre”.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson also announces that the Parliamentary Board of her party has decided not to attend the June 30, 2017 midnight programme at the Parliament House to celebrate GST, as a mark of protest.
“We feel, at least 6 months will further be necessary to notify all rules and procedures and give enough time to the stakeholders, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises to successfully implement the GST. Otherwise a chaotic situation may arise in our vast economy for which the Government of India will be primarily responsible,” Ms Banerjee said on social media.
The Chief Minister claimed that businesses in the small and medium ones are scared and confused. “Essential commodities such as medicines are not available in many places and prices of various commodities are rising for lack of clarity and mismanagement,” she added. State’s Finance Minister Amit Mitra have also pressed on the need of more time before the GST can be implemented all across the country.
"We have repeatedly said in the GST council that the roll-out must be done systematically. In other countries like Germany and Japan, they had given 12 to 18 months before the introduction of such tax system,” Mr Mitra said
Meanwhile, in Kolkata garment manufacturers in Burrabazar area are observing strike over imposing GST on garments. A number of other shops sealing small engineering goods also remained closed in the city.
