GST & Demonetisation no dampner for Patna Traders

Much against general perception, demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime appeared to have no bearing on the voting behaviour of the trade and business sections in the Patna Sahib Parliamentary constituency. Indeed, the gold and silver jewellery market in Patna and other parts of the state had been acutely concerned about the new tax regime. Patliputra Sarrafa Sangh (PSS) president Vinod Kumar said the jewellers in state had also joined the countrywide 42-day stir to make the Centre take notice of their demands.

The jewellers wanted 3% GST on the gold and silver jewellery and freedom from e-way bill for transporting jewellery from one place to another, as people in the sector had been traditionally transporting their items from one place to another either through courier services or by hand for security reasons. “The GST Council finally addressed our two concerns,” Kumar said.

He said the traders engaged in the gold and jewellery sector would vote for BJP’s Patna Sahib candidate Ravi Shankar Prasad. Recalling an incident, Kumar said Ravi Shankar had given patient hearing to the concerns of the jewellers at Patna.

Courtesy: Times of India