Tax waiver: GJMM talk to CM

SNS, DARJEELING, 17 MAY: Leaders of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) today said that they have taken up the issue related to the state government’s recent notice asking traders based in the three sub-divisions of the Darjeeling Hills to pay the sale taxes left accumulating for years with the Chief Minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee, during her just-concluded Hill trip. 

According to the leaders, they would raise the matter at an upcoming tripartite meeting slated for 24 May as per the talks held between them and the chief minister. The traders across the Hills did not pay sale taxes from April 2008 to July 2011 in response to the GJMM’s Home Rule movement, demanding Gorkhaland. The notice recently issued asked the traders to pay the outstanding arrears by June. 

The GJMM general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, today said they would raise the matter at the tripartite meeting to be held on 24 May. “At the tripartite meeting, we will demand the arrears of the sales tax, as well as telephone and electricity dues, be waived. The chief minister has already declared that the electricity dues would be waived off,” he said. He, however, declined to say anything when asked about the chief minister’s reaction to the waiver-demand regarding the sale tax dues. 

An observer said: “The traders are liable to pay the dues, but the state government should allow them to pay them in installments if it proves impossible for the government to have these waived once and for all. The issues should be addressed at the tripartite meeting. The people are watching the GJMM’s role vis-à-vis the matter. It is due to the GJMM’s stir that the people kept away from paying the taxes as well as telephone and electricity dues.”