Job scarcity in country due to GST, says Delhi CM Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that a situation of “job scarcity” has arisen in the country as the country’s economy has reached a “sad state” due to demonetisation and GST. 

Mr Kejriwal’s remarks come a day before the opposition parties observe the first anniversary of demonetisation as Black Day on Wednesday.

Addressing a traders’ meet on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) here, Mr Kejriwal also demanded that the Centre abolish 28 and 18 per cent tax slabs in the new tax regime and said only the 12 per cent tax slab should exist on every item.

“A situation of job scarcity has arisen in the Indian economy due to the sad state of affairs and recession has come back to haunt us. Everybody is saying that the two reasons behind this are demonetisation and GST in the last two years,” Mr Kejriwal said.

While interacting with traders at ‘GST market support committees’, organised by the government, he asked market associations to create WhatsApp groups in their respective areas to share their concerns, which would be raised in the GST council meeting by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

“We do not want the business to close because to the GST in Delhi. I ask you (traders) to approach the government if we can do something for you. The deputy chief minister will raise all your issues in GST Council meeting,” he emphasised

“I ask the Centre that there be 12 per cent tax slab. Out of 12 per cent, central and the respective states can share 6:6 per cent on every item,” the chief minister calculated.

Alleging complexity in the GST structure, Mr Sisodia said that the issue of the traders should be addressed immediately. “There is a lot of complexity in the GST. If it is not removed, the situation is ure to deteriorate,” Mr Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said.