NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JAN 4
Delhi MLA and AAP national spokesperson Atishi Singh, AAP Gujarat president Gopal Italia, and AAP Business Cell, Ahmedabad President Rohit Khanna on Sunday held talks with traders and women SHGs from across the city on steps to revive the economy roiled by the coronavirus pandemic.
They were speaking at a business conclave organised by the Business Cell of ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ (AAP) in Ahmedabad. Business and financial issues faced by the trade and industry were discussed at the conclave that was attended by a large number of local traders and business persons.
The conclave was addressed by AAP national spokesperson and MLA Atishi Singh, AAP Gujarat president Gopal Italia, and AAP Business Cell, Ahmedabad President Rohit Khanna.
Kickstarting the conclave, Atishi said, “Kejriwal-led AAP Government has ended the inspector raj as well as corruption and trusted the traders under its ‘Ease of Doing Business’ which resulted in doubling the government’s revenue From Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore over five years. Out of this revenue, whopping 25 percent has been spent on the education sector, including the construction of over 20,000 classrooms. Health and infra sectors were given the much-needed thrust to uplift citizens’ welfare. The NCR Govt bears the entire treatment cost of any accident victim in Delhi. Presently, residential power consumers are getting 200 units of free power per month. Following the representation from the traders, the proposals on rebate on commercial power bills, at least for the lockdown period, is under the govt’s consideration.”
To improve the economic condition of women, there is no bus fare for them in Delhi. To ease the burden on the low- and middle-class families, there has been no fee hike in private schools. Over 1000 students from government-run schools have cleared the NEET and JEE without spending a single rupee. The AAP will replicate the same in Gujarat if elected to power, Atishi added.
Atishi Singh, who is also an advisor to the AAP government in Delhi, spoke about the unprecedented downtrends businesses are witnessing in the last few years.
“A lot of the problems trade and industry today are facing are because of the haphazard decision of demonetization, which has not met even a single objective. The unplanned and rush implementation of GST only made matters worse, while the pandemic has resulted in unprecedented pain and losses for everyone. Unemployment is close to all-time highs, but the governments at the centre and state have failed to provide any relief or help to businesses throughout the crisis,” she added.
“The problems faced by the businesses, including night curfew, which has broken the back of the hospitality industry, were discussed at the conclave. The police and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation authorities are inflicting further financial burden on people by way of heavy fines on various pretexts. AAP will consider property and water tax rebates for the business community during the lockdown period,” said Rohit Khanna, President of AAP Business Cell, Ahmedabad district.
Khanna also said that the authorities should have at least allowed home delivery of food, as was the case before Diwali rather than imposing a blanket curfew from 9 or 10 pm.
AAP Gujarat President Gopal Italia said the main opposition Congress in the state has failed to raise issues related to people, and trade & industry. “There is no credible voice against the BJP government in Gujarat or at the centre. The Aam Aadmi Party will raise the issues affecting the aam aadmi and industries, and emerge as their voice,” he said.
At the conclave, Gulab Sinh Yadav, the AAP MLA from Delhi also spoke about the various steps the Arvind Kejriwal government has taken in Delhi for the benefit of people and businesses.
