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| Tax concessions hailed, opposition terms it as 'jugglery of figures' | | Mixed reaction to budget | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 12: The annual Budget 2010-2011 presented by Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather in State Legislative Assembly has evoked mixed reaction among political, industrial and social units here.
While the opposition parties picked holes in it by describing it as "jugglery of figures", "balance sheet" and "status-quo document," the industrialists appreciated the ruling dispensation for extending remission of VAT to local industry for one more year.
In its first reaction on state budget, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said, "Despite jugglery of figures, it is evident that the dependence at the Centre is galloping. Over 85 per cent state expenses are to be met with the grants and assistance from the Centre."
Chaman Lal Gupta, Leader of BJP Legislature Party said, "Notwithstanding the slogans of Autonomy and restoration of pre-1953 status, the State is not in a position even to meet the salaries of its staff from internal resources. On the expenditure side, the share of Jammu is awfully little indicating regional bias."
The BJP leader pointed out that the no care has been taken to provide relief to the "suffering masses" particularly because of the soaring prices and ever increasing unemployment.
"The budget appears a balance sheet like that of a Commission agent having little to invest and get his share with hardly any accountability. It presents a hopeless on several accounts," he charged.
Talking to the Early Times, Harsh Dev Singh, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) described the annual budget as "non-speaking", "non-committal" and "status-quo document."
"Only extending remission of VAT on Feni, Ghuchi and other goods do not make it people-friendly budget. The budget has maintained silence over lakhs of unemployed youth who were eagerly waiting for it. There has been nothing for lakhs of government employees who are on strike. Instead of resoling their issues, the government has threatened them. What they want to convey the striking employees?" questioned the JKNPP leader.
National Conference provincial president Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta and Vice chairman Kissan Development Advisory Board Rachpal Singh have hailed the annual budget presented by the Finance Minister. They have said that the budget is balance one and several items like fertilizers, pesticides and agricultural implements have been exempted from toll tax.
They further said that Jammu and Kashmir being an agriculture state and the steps taken by the State Government under the leadership of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would prove beneficial to the common man.
The striking employees have termed the budget as "anti-workers" and alleged that state government has ignored the employees. "There is nothing for the common man. Government has sidelined the issue of full implementation of Sixth Pay Commission Report," said Gafoor Dar, a senior union leader.
"By not implementing our demands through the Budget, government has proved its stubborn stance of not providing us with our rights which has called for severe agitation against it," said Ram Kumar Sharma EJAC president.
He added, "Now as we are on roads, we are prepared for a fight to finish. While the government has increased taxes nothing has been announced for the employees. Omar Abdullah is forcing us to take path of violence."
In a sharp reaction to the annual budget, the Scheduled Tribe Gujjars and Bakerwal Community described the proposals presents by the Finance Minister as "directionless", "anti-tribal" and "anti-marginalized" communities.
Haji Shamsher Ali Boken, state president of Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Forum, expressed his anguish over the ignorance of Gujjars, Bakerwals and other marginalized communities of the State in the Budget allocations.
"The budget has not fulfilled the expectations of the Gujjars and other poor and weaker sections of the State and the budgetary arrangements suggest that it is loaded in favour of capitalists," Gujjar leader said.
"The budget is balanced one but increase in toll tax and one percent increase in VAT from current 4 per cent to 5 per cent is not good for business class. In fact it would further increase the prices of essential commodities," said Y V Sharma, president Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI).
The Chamber, however, welcomed abolishing of Value Added Tax on Paneer (Cheese), Gulbanaf-sha, Guchian, Anardana, Agriculture tools and implements, Pesticides, weedicides and insecticides, all types of fodder, beehives and bee colonies, solar energy equipment, fenneyan, while retaining wheat, flour, suji, besin, paddy and rice in Zero category. It further welcomed the abolition of toll tax on agriculture, Tools and implements Pesticides weedicides insecticides fertilizer beehives and bee colonies.
It also expressed thanks to the Finance Minister for extending remission of VAT to local industry for one more year and enhancing the limit for compulsory audit of VAT accounts from 40 lacs to 60 lacs and requested the Finance Minister to enhance TOT limit from 20 lacs to 50 lacs.
Federation of Industries has hailed extending the tax benefit under VAT regime to the Industry for one year.
In a meeting of Federation of Industries held under the chairmanship of Devinder Mahajan at Bari Brahmana Industrial Area (BBIA) Bhawan at SIDCO, the members unanimously expressed hope that the government would also resolve other pending issues concerning industry favourably in near future.
The meeting was attended by Tejwant Singh Reen, S.C Dutta, Devinder Verma, Vinod Rishi, Jatinder Aul Co-Chairmen FOI and Kuldip Ohri Secretary General
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