Bengaluru, July 22 || The Karnataka BJP has slammed the state government over the alleged issuance of GST tax notices to small traders, accusing it of obstructing the Centre’s digital revolution.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office ‘Jagannath Bhavan’ on Tuesday, former national general secretary C.T. Ravi, who is also a member of the Legislative Council, charged that the Congress government in Karnataka appears to be conspiring to derail the Digital India initiative by issuing notices to small traders.
He said that while UPI payment systems have set global records, the Congress government has created fear and panic among the public.
“It is creating a climate of fear around the Centre’s digital transaction efforts,” he claimed.
Due to the notices, small traders have become afraid and have started putting up boards saying, “UPI payments not accepted, cash only.”
He also alleged that this climate of fear has led to complaints of bribes being demanded by middlemen and certain officials. He demanded that the state tax department withdraw the notices and rescue small traders from this fear psychosis.
Ravi claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed commercial tax officials to increase tax collections, which led to notices being issued to small traders.