Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party State General Secretary Anil Sarin launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government of Punjab, stating that the present government has turned the Excise and Taxation Department into an instrument of extortion, shaking the confidence of traders and industrialists. According to him, the government, in an attempt to fill its empty treasury, is targeting innocent trade and industry, resulting in an environment of fear and pressure across the state’s industrial sector.
Sarin alleged that officers of the Tax Department have been instructed to conduct at least four inspections every month, with an enforced target of extorting ₹8–10 lakh from each inspection. This method, he said, is not tax collection but “straightforward extortion,” and calling it tax terrorism would not be an exaggeration.
During a press conference in Chandigarh—held in the presence of senior leader Jagdeep Singh Nakai, State Media Head Vineet Joshi, and Co-Treasurer Sukhwinder Singh Goldy—Sarin stated that the government has destroyed traders’ liquidity by blocking refunds worth over ₹1000 crore. While the Central government releases GST refunds on time, the Punjab government is “looting” the rights of traders by blocking the refunds, even as the Finance Minister goes around making false claims of revenue growth.
Sarin warned that the BJP stands firmly with trade and industry. He demanded that the government immediately release the pending refunds, withdraw the extortion targets, and put an end to tax terrorism, as Punjab’s progress is directly linked to the safety and confidence of its business community.