Gold merchants to stage protest tomorrow

Traders’ association alleges harassment by GST officials

The All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants’ Association said here on Monday that its members would stage a protest in front of the State secretariat on Wednesday against what the merchants alleged was “persecution” by officials of the Goods and Services Tax Department, resulting in the disruption of normal commercial activities. Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan would inaugurate the protest gathering, said S. Abdul Nasar, treasurer of the association.

He said constant “harassment” by GST officials was forcing the gold merchants to openly protest. Officials from the GST department had been found camping in front of gold outlets across the State, he alleged. He said customers were being checked for their purchases while work at gold workshops was disrupted constantly. Gold being moved from workshops to hallmarking units was being seized by the officials, he alleged.

However, GST department sources denied the allegations of persecution. While small units and processors were not under scrutiny, only those consignments without proper documentation were being subjected to inspections and penalty. There was no question of disrupting business, they said.