Traders stage protest against functioning of Delhi VAT department

New Delhi, March 12, 2014: To protest against the functioning of Delhi VAT Department and its attempt to issue several notifications continuously, the Delhi traders have come on roads now. A large number of traders from different parts of Delhi today staged a protest dharna at Ghantaghar, Chandni Chowk and demanded the withdrawal of enforcement of Form T-2 which is scheduled to be implemented from March 15 by VAT Department.

The traders sitting at dharna resolve to intensify their agitation further and even the possibility of a Delhi bandh is also not ruled out. The traders alleged that in absence of any elected Government in Delhi, the bureaucracy has become autocratic. The traders have appealed Delhi LG Najib Jung to intervene in the matter.
Traders from more than 200 prominent trade associations of Delhi participated in the dharna which was chaired by prominent trade leader of Delhi Suresh Bindal. Prominent among those who attended the dharna includes National Chairman of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Mahendra Shah, CAIT National President B.C.Bhartia, Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal beside other trade leaders including Sushil Goyal, Satendra Jain, Gopal Goyal, Hemant Gupta, Shankar Lal Agrawal, Rajendra Gupta, Dev Raj Baweja, Harish Sachhar etc. CAIT Delhi State Chairman Narendra Madan, State President Ramesh Khanna and General   Secretary Vijay Pal also participated in dharna.
The traders sitting at the dharna alleged that in spite of their maximum contribution and cooperation to VAT Department, the traders are subjected to trader unfriendly policies and regular introduction of new notifications is causing lot of paper compliance and creating hurdles in smooth conduct of business in Delhi. They regretted that though there is a VAT Advisory Committee but the Department did not think it proper to even consult the Committee prior to notify any policy notification. If the Committee has no role then it is better to dissolve the Committee. The Delhi traders are conducting business in adverse circumstances but even then collecting major revenue for the government but instead of appreciating the role of traders, the Department is always contemplating as to how the traders can remain shackled in vicious net of tax and other laws.
Meanwhile, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal informed the protestors that Delhi VAT Commissioner Prashant Goyal had called him and offer to resolve the issues and for this purpose he is convening a meeting of trade leaders of Delhi on February 14. Khandelwal further informed that VAT Commissioner said that the Department has no intention to harass or victimize the traders but equally concerned about generation of revenue. Khandelwal hoped that the VAT Commissioner will take all steps to defuse the anger and resentment of Delhi traders.
The traders said that issues like providing online information to Department through Form T-2 prior to entry of any goods in Delhi, mandatory keeping account books and records for last seven years at their shops and liability of the purchasing dealer to verify credentials of selling dealer and any non compliance of these orders, traders will subject to penalty and even imprisonment, are such orders which will ruin trade of Delhi and more so the Delhi trade will be transferred to neighboring states. The Department has not streamlined its working on issues like pending refunds of traders, missing of information submitted by the traders from Computers of Department etc. Instead of pointing fingers of doubt over traders, the Department should overhaul its own administration. The traders are ready to cooperate with Department in making efforts for generation of revenue but the cooperation should be on principle of equality basis.
The traders questioned that about years back a private TV Channel has caught red handed 80 officials of VAT Department but till date the Department has failed to inform about the action taken against such officials. The traders have sought intervention of Delhi LG Najib Jung in this matter.