No incentives for industry in new policy: Majha Congress
Thursday, 06/06/2013
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CHANDIGARH: Congress MLAs from the Majha region on Wednesday criticised the industrial policy announced by the state government on Monday, saying there was nothing in it to save the existing units.
Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Fatehgarh Churian MLA Tripat Bajwa, former MLA Harpartap Singh Ajnala, District Congress Committee (urban) president Yugal Sharma and District Congress Committee Tarn Taran president Dharamvir Agnihotri, in a joint statement, said the new policy unveiled by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had offered no special fiscal concessions for the existing industry in Punjab which was reeling under heavy taxes.
The Congress leaders said since there were no fiscal incentives for the existing industry in Punjab, where it took more than a year to get the value added tax (VAT) refunded, it was difficult for these units to survive.
“That’s why majority of the industry is contemplating shifting base. During the tax holiday given to the hill states for nearly 10 years, already a large number of units have shifted to Himachal Pradesh. The decision to give tax holiday was taken by the NDA government of which Akalis were a part and parcel. However, the Akalis never opposed the NDA’s decision, which led to erosion of industry from Punjab,” said the Congress leaders.
The Congress leaders also lambasted industry and commerce minister Anil Joshi for holding the significant portfolio only to be subservient to Sukhbir. Joshi appeared to have no role in drafting the policy and was a mere spectator to the entire exercise, they said.
