He highlighted that procedural challenges regarding VAT and GST would be simplified to improve the ease of doing business.
1st Meeting of Punjab Traders Body: Kejriwal & Mann Vow End to "Tax Terrorism"
On Thursday, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended the first meeting of the Punjab State Traders Commission in Mohali.
Kejriwal addressed business leaders, emphasising that the commission’s primary mandate is to eliminate "tax terrorism", a long-standing grievance of the local mercantile community.
He asserted that the Punjab government’s focus is on the creation of a "fear-free" environment to ensure that businessmen are no longer viewed with a "negative mindset" or treated as "thieves" by authorities.
Chief Minister Mann elaborated on the initiative, stating that the commission would serve as a direct bridge between the government and the industry to end bureaucratic harassment. He highlighted that procedural challenges regarding VAT and GST would be simplified to improve the ease of doing business and resolve pending grievances of small shopkeepers.
Mann further noted that the commission consists of representatives from the trading community itself, allowing for grassroots-level policy recommendations.
Both leaders reaffirmed that by empowering local traders, the state focuses on driving economic growth and generating employment. It is also to ensure shopkeepers no longer run from office to office for solutions. By bringing the administration directly to the markets, the government aims to safeguard the dignity of traders, marking a decisive step toward business reforms in Punjab's commercial sector.
Source: Times of India
