UP Ministers to allay traders' fears on GST

Worried at the opposition to the GST by a large section of traders in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Ministers will fan out an "explain the benefits of the single tax system".

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hailed Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the "biggest and most positive tax law since Independence".

Government sources said that a feedback from the BJP's state unit of the "GST not going down well with a big chunk of its traditional vote base of traders and businessmen" has sent the Yogi Adityanath government in a tizzy, a fortnight from the actual roll out of the GST on July 1.

At a late night meeting on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the new tax regime and asked his ministers to "explain to the confused" the GST's real benefits.

Adityanath has also asked his Ministers and senior officials to conduct symposiums with regard to the GST. The state information department has been mandated to spread more awareness about the new tax regime.

Union Revenue Secretary Hansmukh Adhia also informed the Ministers about the new tax regime.

Adhia briefed the state cabinet about the GST provisions and also allayed some concerns raised by some ministers, an official said.