Protest against higher GST slab on sewing machine parts

Ludhiana, October 13, 2017: There prevails a strong resentment among those associated to sewing machine industry as three tax slabs ranging between 12 per cent and 18 per cent under the GST regime are being imposed on them. As a mark of protest, the local industrialists under the banner of the Sewing Machine Dealers and Assemblers Association on Friday staged a strong protest outside GST Bhawan, Rishi Nagar, Ludhiana.
Protestors shouted slogans against the union government and the union finance minister. Addressing the protestors, the association leaders including Mohinder Singh (president) and Varinder Rakheja (former president) said they were constrained to know that the three tax slabs - 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent were being imposed on the sewing industry. They added 12 percent GST was being imposed on sewing machine and 18 per cent to 28 per cent GST was being imposed on sewing machine parts. They categorically told that such a higher rate of GST on sewing machine parts was not acceptable to them.
Further, they said if the government failed to accede to their demand of imposing 12 per cent GST on both sewing machine and its parts then they would be constrained to knock door of the court to get justice. They pointed out that when both sewing machine and its parts had a single HSN code then different tax stabs were being imposed. They added keeping the sewing parts under a higher GST slab would put a negative impact on the industry that was already passing through a critical time. Moreover, sewing machines were not a luxury items. Rather, sewing machines were being used by people for earn their livelihood. As such, imposing higher GST on sewing machine parts would also hit financially these people besides the industry.
Protestors also submitted a charter of demands to the concerned officials at the GST Commissionerate Office at Ludhiana.
Meanwhile, Sources told that there was a possibility that the industry leaders might contact the concerned officials on Monday for redressal of their grievances following which they might go ahead for their future course of action.