On the sidelines of a meeting of the GST Council in Udaipur, a delegation of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) led by Kishandas Maheshwari, Convener of the organisation’s Coloured Gemstone Panel Committee, interacted with several ministers and presented memorandums.

The GJEPC is seeking exemption for diamonds, coloured gemstones and precious metals from the ambit of the GST which is to be introduced shortly. The reasoning is that jewellery, the end product will be attracting GST; hence taxing its components too, would amount to multiple taxation.

At a breakfast meeting with Shri Manish Sisodia Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi state, Maheshwari put forward the submission of the GJEPC. Shri Sisodia contended as that refund would be given on the categories referred to, there was no problem. In the course of the meeting, Shri Sisodia also had a telephonic conversation with GJEPC’s Executive Director (ED) Sabyasachi Ray who gave him a detailed reasoning in support of the Council’s request. He also pointed out that the seeking refunds are cumbersome and time consuming, and the entire exercise is not conducive to the MSME sector. Upon the clarification, Shri Sisodia agreed with the contention put forward by the Convenor of the CG Panel Committee.

Later, Maheshwari, who is also a member of the Federation of Rajasthan Trade & Industry (FORTI) met the Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley as part of the FORTI Delegation. This delegation submitted a memorandum on GST to the FM and interacted with him briefly. The gem & jewellery industry’s recommendations were also part of FORTI memorandum. In the course of the interaction, Shri Jaitley acknowledged that the Council's memorandum had reached him.

The GJEPC delegation also met the Minister of Industry of the state of Rajasthan, Shri Rajpal Singh Shekhawat and submitted a memorandum to him as well. He confirmed that he has recommended the GJEPC’s position to GST Council, of which he is member from Rajasthan.

Pic Cap: Kishandas Maheshwari, Convener GJEPC’s Coloured Gemstones Panel Committee, handing over a memorandum on GST to Shri Manish Sisodia, Dy CM of Delhi state