AAP vows to end liquor mafia in Punjab, promises tax relief : The Tribune India

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AAP vows to end liquor mafia in Punjab, promises tax relief

LUDHIANA: The AAP on Sunday promised to dismantle liquor mafia, end the “raid-raj” and introduce a slew of incentives to “revive” trade and industry in Punjab, including tax holidays for some sectors, if it was voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

AAP vows to end liquor mafia in Punjab, promises tax relief

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with other leaders, releases trade, industry and transport manifesto in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan



Tribune News Service   

Ludhiana, October 23

The AAP on Sunday promised to dismantle liquor mafia, end the “raid-raj” and introduce a slew of incentives to “revive” trade and industry in Punjab, including tax holidays for some sectors, if it was voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

After its manifestoes for the youth and farmers, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal released its manifesto for trade, industry and transport sectors here and vowed to provide a transparent tax regime, "lower" tax rates and eliminate "sand mafia" in the state.

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A Special Investigation Team will be set up to investigate collection of "goonda tax" through Akali-BJP and Congress collusion, the AAP manifesto said.

AAP, which is eyeing to wrest power from SAD-BJP regime, also promised revival of sick units through a series of measures.

Its measures included a two-year tax holiday, special package to bring back industry that had "fled" the state, 10-year tax holiday for agro-based food processing industry and five-year tax holiday for women to encourage women entrepreneurs.

Mahila Congress staged a protest in the city against Kejriwal before his visit, but they were prevented from reaching the venue.

Alleged “liquor mafia” will be dismantled and replaced with an alternative system that provides equal opportunity and generates employment and “control of politicians and their henchmen will be ended in the liquor business”, it said.

Self-certification regime for all NOCs and consents in businesses will be implemented.

“Tax regime will be simplified and made transparent while VAT and other taxes will be reduced on Delhi pattern. In five years, Punjab will have the lowest tax rate, one time settlement of pending tax related cases and VAT refund will be expedited,” it said.

Punjab goes to polls early next year.

“In order to end alleged harassment of ‘rehriwalas’ and ‘fariwallahs’, spaces will be earmarked in every city for creation of ‘rehri’ markets and week-end flea markets,” it said.

“Electricity tariff will be substantially reduced by nailing corruption and enabling optimum efficiency of systems while anti-Punjab power agreements with private power plants will be reviewed and those responsible for burdening the people of the state will be punished,” manifesto said.

On transport sector, AAP said it will be “depoliticised”.

“AAP government will snatch bus permits from the Badals, top politicians of the SAD-BJP, Congress and others who have (allegedly) procured them through fraudulent means and will be given to unemployed youth, ex-servicemen, handicapped persons, terrorist victims, and victims of 1984 anti-Sikh violence,” it said.

AAP said there will be elimination of alleged “Reta-Bajri (sand and gravel)” mafia in Punjab and mining licences will be given to young entrepreneurs. — With PTI Inputs

Highlights of industry manifesto  

  • Trade, industry and transport sectors will be made corruption free.
  • 'Inspector Raj', 'Raid raj' will be eliminated
  • Tax regime will be simplified
  • VAT and other taxes will be reduced on the lines of Delhi’s levies.
  • Unauthorised colonies to be regularised
  • New industrial township will be developed in Rupnagar
  • Sick units will be revived in  Mandi  Gobindgarh,  Ludhiana,  Jalandhar,  Amritsar,  Batala, Pathankot,  Nangal,  Bathinda  and  all  other  industrial  towns  will  be  ensured  in  a  time-bound manner through a series of measures, including two-year tax holiday
  • Special package to bring back industry that fled the state.
  • Real-estate sector to be revived. A comprehensive real-estate  policy to be drawn up.
  • Elimination of Reta-Bajri Mafia in Punjab; mining licences to young entrepreneurs. SIT to unearth collection of "Goonda Tax" “through Akali-BJP & Congress collusion”. 
  • A 10-year tax holiday for agro-based food processing and other industries. 
  • Interest-free loans for agro-units employing at least 80 per cent work force from Punjab. 
  • Units in rural areas related to food processing, dairy products, maize and cotton etc set up by local entrepreneurs will be given incentives.                     
  • Transport sector will be depoliticised.  AAP promises to “snatch” bus permits from Badals, top politicians of the SAD-BJP, Congress and others who have procured them through fraudulent means and give them to unemployed youth, ex-servicemen, handicapped persons, terrorist victims, and victims of 1984 anti-Sikh violence. 

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