Leader of the Opposition in Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Charging the Congress government with creating confusion with its new tax rules for small traders and street vendors, the Karnataka BJP has decided to launch a helpline to protect their interests.
The helpline – 8884245123 – will go live on Monday, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Naranayaswamy informed journalists in Bengaluru on Saturday.
“The state government has already issued notice to street vendors and small traders. There is a lot of confusion over this issue, and instead of finding a solution to this problem, the Congress government is creating more trouble,” the LoP rued.
Accusing the Congress government of not making the effort of explaining the tax rules to the small traders, Chalavadi said, “Small traders are neither thieves nor tax evaders. But they are finding it hard to understand the tax system. They are confused and worried. The government should take note of this and help them.”
Pointing out that there was an exemption under GST for traders the annual turnover of whom was less than Rs 40 lakh, the LoP said, “But the state government has issued notice to traders, whose turnover exceeds Rs 20 lakh.”