{"id":4899,"date":"2025-07-22T22:19:55","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T16:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=4899"},"modified":"2025-07-24T20:20:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T14:50:05","slug":"we-cant-pay-with-our-blood-vendors-anguish-over-shock-tax-bills-announce-massive-protest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=4899","title":{"rendered":"“‘We Can’t Pay With Our Blood!’ – Vendors’ Anguish Over Shock Tax Bills Announce Massive Protest”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Small Business Owners to Protest “Crippling” GST Notices in Bengaluru<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Vendors Demand Waiver of Past Dues, Say Arbitrary Tax Demands Threaten Livelihoods<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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“4 \u0cb5\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0cb7\u0ca6 \u0cb9\u0cbf\u0c82\u0ca6\u0cbf\u0ca8 \u0ca4\u0cc6\u0cb0\u0cbf\u0c97\u0cc6 \u0cac\u0cbf\u0cb2\u0ccd\u0cb2\u0cc1: \u0cb2\u0c95\u0ccd\u0cb7\u0cbe\u0c82\u0ca4\u0cb0 \u0cb5\u0ccd\u0caf\u0cbe\u0caa\u0cbe\u0cb0\u0cbf\u0c97\u0cb3 \u0c95\u0cb7\u0ccd\u0c9f\u0ca6 \u0c95\u0cc2\u0c97\u0cc1!”<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Bengaluru, July 22, 2025:<\/strong>\u00a0Hundreds of small business owners, bakery operators, and street vendors will gather at Freedom Park on July 24 to protest what they call “unfair and devastating” GST notices issued by the Commercial Taxes Department. The notices, demanding backdated taxes from the past four years, have left many entrepreneurs in financial distress, with some facing dues ranging from \u20b940 lakh to over \u20b93 crore\u2014amounts they say are impossible to pay.<\/p>\n

The Karnataka State Bakery, Condiments and Small Business Owners Association, organizing the protest, alleges that the government failed to educate small businesses about GST compliance, only to suddenly impose massive penalties years later. Many vendors, still recovering from pandemic losses and inflation, now fear being forced to shut down their shops permanently.<\/p>\n

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“A Shock, Not a Notice”: Vendors Decry Lack of Awareness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Advocate Shakuntala Shetty, legal counsel for the association, minced no words in criticizing the government\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cIssuing GST notices after nearly four years, without annual reminders or proper awareness campaigns, is a complete failure on the part of the government,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0she said.\u00a0\u201cNow, when small vendors are on the streets protesting, the department suddenly starts conducting workshops. This drama after the damage is unacceptable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

She revealed that many vendors have stopped using UPI payments out of fear of being tracked and penalized further, severely impacting their daily transactions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese notices demand unimaginable amounts, leaving vendors mentally shattered. Many are now staring at the possibility of closing their businesses. This isn\u2019t compliance\u2014it\u2019s harassment,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0she added.<\/p>\n

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Key Demand: Waiver of GST Dues Up to 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The association is urging both the Central and State governments to waive all GST dues from the past four years, arguing that small businesses were never properly informed about their tax obligations. They emphasize that most vendors are now willing to comply with GST regulations from 2025 onwards.<\/p>\n

Pratap Shetty, President of the Association, expressed frustration over the government\u2019s silence despite repeated appeals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are left with no option but to protest. Our memorandums have been ignored. If the government continues to turn a blind eye, we will have no choice but to approach the courts,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n

He pointed to favorable rulings by the Bombay and Kerala High Courts, which held that small businesses under the composite tax system cannot be burdened with retrospective GST demands.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe department is suddenly holding awareness workshops because we are protesting. Why wasn\u2019t this done four years ago? What\u2019s the point now, after pushing people to the brink?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0he questioned.<\/p>\n

Contact For Media Updates:<\/span> +91-93531 21474<\/span> [WhatsApp]<\/h3>\n
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CM Siddaramaiah Responds, Shifts Focus to Centre<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acknowledged the grievances but noted that the GST Council falls under the Central Government\u2019s jurisdiction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe State government will raise the issue with the Centre and hold discussions with the Commercial Taxes Department before making a decision,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n

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Growing Anger: Protest Expected to Draw Large Crowds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With emotions running high, the protest at Freedom Park is likely to see a massive turnout from small business owners across Karnataka. The association has warned of further agitation, including legal action, if their demands are not met.<\/p>\n

The controversy highlights the fragile state of small businesses, many of which are still struggling to recover from pandemic losses and rising costs. For countless vendors, the sudden demand for backdated taxes may be the final blow to their survival.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just want to earn a livelihood,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said a bakery owner who received a \u20b91.2 crore notice.\u00a0\u201cIf the government doesn\u2019t listen, what other option do we have but to fight?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As the protest looms, all eyes are on whether authorities will offer relief or risk pushing thousands of small entrepreneurs deeper into despair.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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KEY QUOTES<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Government\u2019s “Too Little, Too Late” Response Fuels Fury<\/strong><\/h3>\n

> While the tax department belatedly launches “awareness workshops,” protesters call it “a joke.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“We Will Be Ruined”: Small Business Owners Rally Against “Killer” GST Notices<\/h3>\n

Vendors Say Retroactive Tax Demands Could Force Shutdowns, Demand Immediate Waiver<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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> “This isn\u2019t a tax notice\u2014it\u2019s an eviction notice for thousands of hardworking families,” said Pratap Shetty<\/strong>, the association\u2019s president, his voice shaking with anger. “They waited four years to tell us we owe \u20b950 lakh, \u20b91 crore\u2014where were these notices in 2021? Why now, when we\u2019re barely recovering?”<\/p>\n

The protest comes as vendors report receiving shock tax assessments ranging from\u00a0\u20b940 lakh to over \u20b93 crore<\/strong>, with many saying compliance was impossible without prior guidance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“First Pandemic, Now This”: Vendors Describe Panic, Suicidal Thoughts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

> At a tea stall in KR Market, 45-year-old Ramesh Patel<\/strong>\u00a0stared blankly at his \u20b92.3 crore GST notice. “I sell idlis for \u20b910 each,” he said, wiping tears. “Do they want my blood instead?”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What Happens Next?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The association vows escalating protests unless the government:
\n\u2705\u00a0Waives all pre-2025 GST dues<\/strong>\u00a0for small businesses
\n\u2705\u00a0Suspends recovery proceedings<\/strong>\u00a0immediately
\n\u2705\u00a0Punishes officers<\/strong>\u00a0for “deliberate harassment”<\/p>\n

As\u00a0Freedom Park braces for thousands<\/strong>\u00a0on Thursday, one question hangs heavy: Will Delhi and Bengaluru listen before another entrepreneur takes their life?<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re not criminals,”<\/em>\u00a0said Shetty, holding up a noose at the press conference.\u00a0“But they\u2019re leaving us no choice.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Small Business Owners to Protest “Crippling” GST Notices in Bengaluru Vendors Demand Waiver of Past Dues, Say Arbitrary Tax Demands Threaten Livelihoods “4 \u0cb5\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0cb7\u0ca6 \u0cb9\u0cbf\u0c82\u0ca6\u0cbf\u0ca8 \u0ca4\u0cc6\u0cb0\u0cbf\u0c97\u0cc6 \u0cac\u0cbf\u0cb2\u0ccd\u0cb2\u0cc1: \u0cb2\u0c95\u0ccd\u0cb7\u0cbe\u0c82\u0ca4\u0cb0 \u0cb5\u0ccd\u0caf\u0cbe\u0caa\u0cbe\u0cb0\u0cbf\u0c97\u0cb3 \u0c95\u0cb7\u0ccd\u0c9f\u0ca6 \u0c95\u0cc2\u0c97\u0cc1!”   Bengaluru, July 22, 2025:\u00a0Hundreds of small business owners, bakery operators, and street vendors will gather at Freedom Park on July 24 to protest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[198],"tags":[1109,1113],"class_list":["post-4899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bengaluru","tag-gst","tag-gst-notice"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4899"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4950,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4899\/revisions\/4950"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}