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Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday said that a large section of the middle class, from which Haldwani transporter Prakash Pande came, is facing the challenges which made Pande desperate enough to commit suicide.
He suggested that those in government and in Opposition need to consider the negative effects of demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). State should also conduct a study by officials and experts on the impact of these two factors especially on small businesses in the State.
Addressing to media here at the Congress Bhawan on Thursday, Rawat said that the circumstances under which Pande had committed suicide were unfortunate and deplorable. In his video clip, Pande blamed demonetisation and GST for his business loss. He fears that the factors which forced him to commit suicide are also being faced by a considerable proportion of the public. The middle class to which Pande belonged is still most vulnerable in Uttarakhand. The state should conduct a study to ascertain the impact of GST and demonetisation especially on small businesses in Uttarakhand.
Rawat further alleged that 10 months after inception of BJP led state government in Uttarakhand, developmental works had come to a standstill in the state. The State Government accuses the previous government of emptying the state’s coffers but this does not explain the downward trend in revenue generation. Where Value Added Tax was replaced by GST, the receipts have dropped by about 50 per cent.
Referring to the division of assets with Uttar Pradesh, he said that though the state government was making it appear as if all issues pertaining to the state transport corporation had been resolved the situation is unclear. He said that even if Uttar Pradesh retained 86 per cent and Uttarakhand got 14 per cent share of the roadways properties at places including Lucknow and at Ajmeri Gate in Delhi, the state would get Rs 700 crore but this has not happened yet
