 Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 16: Showing strong resentment over the GST Council's decision to levy 5 percent GST on pre-packed and pre-labelled food grains, curd, butter milk etc., different trade bodies under the banner of Traders Federation Ware House Nehru Market(Regd.) Jammu on Saturday held a strong protest and slogans raised against the GST Council's decision. Traders assembled near the Police Post Ware House under the presidentship of Deepak Gupta and held protest demonstration against the GST Council.
Deepak Gupta on this occasion said that the decision to levy 5 per cent GST on pre-packed and labelled food items will cause loss of business to foodgrain traders, increase compliance burden and also raise the prices of unbranded everyday essentials which will be another burden on Common Man. Earlier only branded versions of these items attract 5 percent GST. Deepak Gupta said that only 15 percent of the population in the country uses branded goods while 85 percent of the population uses things without a brand or mark. Now these 85 percent people will also have to bear the tax burden." "On one hand our Hon'ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi is distributing free ration to the poor and on the other hand the GST Council is levying 5 percent tax on the food of the common man," Gupta said.
He said there is a lot of anger and outrage among the foodgrain traders for bringing all types of pre-packed and pre-labelled food grains and other items under the GST tax slab of 5 per cent, which will cause a huge loss of business to foodgrain traders. "This decision will empower big brands to capture the market at the cost of small manufacturers and traders. Special food items, cereals, etc, which were not branded till now, were exempted from GST. With this decision of the council, pre-packaged and pre-labelled retail packs, including pre-packaged, pre-labelled curd, lassi and buttermilk, will now attract GST tax," Gupta said.
On this occasion Yash Pal Gupta, President Retailers Federation said that according to this decision, now if a grocery shopkeeper also sells food items packed with any mark for identification of his item only, then he will have to pay GST on that food item. After this decision, agricultural products with pre-packaged labels like paneer, buttermilk, packaged curd, wheat flour, other cereals, honey, papad, food grains, meat and fish (except frozen), puffed rice and jaggery etc. will also become costlier.
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