The Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, accusing it of creating an environment of corruption and fear in the name of Goods and Services Tax (GST). State BJP General Secretary Anil Sarin dismissed Finance Minister Harpal Cheema’s claim of a 16% rise in GST revenue as misleading, alleging that the government is withholding GST refunds from traders intentionally. Sarin highlighted that the state government’s reported revenue figures are inflated, and genuine issues like delayed refunds are being ignored.
The BJP leader further alleged that the GST Department is conducting excessive inspections and pressuring traders for recoveries, leading to intimidation tactics and misuse of state Intelligence resources. Sarin pointed out that the AAP government’s increased revenue through state Intelligence indicates coercion and fear tactics rather than legitimate tax collection efforts. He questioned the government’s financial stability, citing protests by various sectors over delayed payments, which he believes reflect the state’s financial crisis and governance failures.
