Crossing sword once again with the Modi government, this time over the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) across the country from July 1, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday opposed the Centre’s move and described it as an “epic blunder” after its demonetisation drive.
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.
“We are deeply concerned about GST implementation. After #demonetisation, this unnecessary disastrous hurry is another epic blunder of the Centre”, she said on Facebook.
“We have been for GST from the beginning but are very worried now with the way the Central Government is going ahead with the implementation”, she said.
“Our repeated suggestions to take some more time to properly implement GST have fallen on deaf ears. The entire business community, especially the small and medium ones, are scared and confused.
“Only 60 hours are left before this ill-planned launch and no one knows for sure what’s happening!”, she said.
“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 said.
Banerjee said, “We have always been fighting for maintaining the federal structure of the country, even if Bengal at times was the lone voice and conscience of the GST Council”.
The chief minister explained, “We are saying that the economy is not yet ready to face the GST from the 1st of July, 2017. The 3 days strike declared by the Textile Industries of India provides evidence to our deep concerns on the lack of preparedness. Small business entities are not yet ready with the basic requirements like invoice, accounting system, IT system and others.
