GST marks death of democracy, says Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Continuing her tirade against the Narendra Modi government over the roll-out of the Goods and Service Tax (GST), chief minister Mamata Banerjee took to her Facebook page on Friday to say that the GST would bring the dreaded “Inspector Raj.” and that freedom and democracy of the country were in grave danger.

“At the stroke of midnight on 14th August, 1947, India won her freedom. Now, at the midnight of 30th June, 2017, freedom and democracy stand to face grave danger. The mockery of Inspector Raj is back,” chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on her Facebook Page.

Vehemently opposing the arrest clause in the GST rules, Ms Banerjee further wrote, “I am shocked to find that the GST rules contain a rather draconian arrest clause, which can lead to major harassment of businesses, particularly the small and medium, with some sections being non-bailable even.”

She further pointed out that in the current VAT regime, field officials of the state did not have the power to arrest. If they saw a serious tax offence, they would have to file an FIR and pursue the due process of law. “But in the case of GST, the inspectors will have the power to arrest on four different types of offences which can lead to jail-terms from one year upto five years,” Ms Banerjee stated in her post.

She added that Bengal had opposed the arrest clause in the GST Council but the Centre did not pay heed.

She expressed her concern that the arrest clause might be used to target businessmen who raised their voice of dissent on any policy matter.” In fact, in the name of GST, they have deviated in many areas from the original intent. Given the atmosphere in the country of vindictively targeting anyone who dares to disagree with the Central Government, I am deeply concerned that the arrest clause in GST may well be used to target business leaders who raise their voice against any policy matter or any practices,” the chief minister wrote.

Taking cue from the chief minister, state finance minister Amit Mitra, who is also the chairman of empowered committee of state finance ministers on GST, issued a statement stating that BJP would suffer in its own states for bulldozing GST. “BJP opposed GST for seven years in every way possible. I had to fight them when I was in Delhi. The then Gujarat chief minister, now the Prime Minister, had opposed it,” Mr Mitra said. Demanding a white paper on preparedness of GST, Mr Mitra said, “Where is the white paper on preparedness? GST is half-baked and dangerous in its present state. We need just a month. With a focused effort, we can get GST done together as a team, but not in this ‘physically zabardast’ way.”

He further said that Trinamul Congress had supported GST in 2009 and their manifesto had also carried it.