Agrofood Chamber thanks CM for GST advisory council

MADURAI: The Madurai-based Agrofood Chamber has thanked Chief Minister MK Stalin and Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan for constituting an advisory council under the chairmanship of the senior advocate, Supreme Court, Aravind P Datar to identify the compliance issues and difficulties experienced by trade and industry with regard to GST rates for various commodities to bring them to the notice of the GST Council. It has been a demand of the chamber from 2019.

S Rethinavelu, president of the chamber, on Monday termed the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a progressive taxation system, which was welcomed by the trade and industry, has turned out to be a ‘tax terrorism,’ especially for micro and small trade and industries.

A majority of the small enterprises were closed fearing penal actions under GST for no fault of theirs. Citing these, the chamber suggested the formation and meeting of a “GST council of trade and industry” before every meeting of the “GST Council of Ministers” to represent their grievances.

The advisory council offers a ray of hope that problems in GST will be properly addressed, he said. Moreover, the chamber has sought the council to undertake a statewide tour and hear the views of leading chambers of commerce before submitting its report, J Rajamohan, secretary, said.

The chamber also expressed the hope that other states would also emulate Tamil Nadu in this regard to have consensus in the GST council, he added.