• Notification Date: 08-12-2022
• Notification No: N/A

Congress accuses Punjab Govt of Tax Terrorism in the State

President of Punjab Congress, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Aam Aadmi Party government for resorting to “tax terrorism” in the state, on Tuesday. 

While reacting to state-wide raids being conducted by the taxation department across Punjab, Warring said that there are serious charges against the government about its complicity in massive liquor scam. The state government is venting its frustration on small-time businessmen and traders through its taxation officials. 
The Congress leader questioned the very purpose of the GST (goods and services tax) raids. He said that in case the GST officials have any doubts or need any information they can call up the particular traders and businessmen to their offices to explain their position. If the officers are not satisfied, they can further investigate by visiting the business premises, he added. The leader of the party also raised the question that what is the need of creating an atmosphere of fear and terror by descending with a posse of officials as if one is raiding some terrorist hideout. 
Warring further said it was for the first time that the taxation officials had raided small time business establishments like ‘kiryana and crockery’ shops. He said that these raids are not likely to yield anything. Hence, it is quite surprising as what the government was trying to convey and get out of such raids.  

The leader remarked that it is only the frustration of the government which has pushed the state of Punjab to bankruptcy. The government has stooped down even more to harass small shopkeepers, he added. 
The Congress leader said while the government was letting off the big fish like big liquor barons, “with active connivance and complicity”, it had started harassing and terrorizing small traders and businessmen. 
Warring said that due to the government's ill-implemented GST regime the trading community was already facing a lot of harassment and hardship. Moreover, now the raids by the state government officials were further adding to their hardships.