SAD leader and former CPS Sarup Chand Singla, while commenting on the result of Gurdaspur lok Sabha bypoll said “It is defeat of the anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi led BJP government at the centre”. It is a verdict on their (BJP) performance rather than six month rule of congress in Punjab”. 

Our President Sukhbir Singh Badal have worked day and night for the success of the BJP candidate, but people were totally annoyed with the anti-people policies of the Modi government. It’s the result of Central government ‘anti-trader’ policies, said Sarup Singla. Former CPS Sarup Singla shared these views at a press conference organised at Jeet palace on Sunday. 

He addressed the press conference in the presence of large number of Akali workers. Sarup Singla said “The bad implementation of the GST has ruined the traders and business community. After its imposition, everything in the market has got costlier and it has created terror among traders”. 

Sarup Singla said “Most of small businessman in Punjab do not employ tax professionals, and have traditionally preferred to pay taxes and file returns on their own to save costs. However, now they will require professional assistance to become GST compliant as it is a completely new system”. 

The small businesses will have to bear the additional cost of hiring experts, he said. It is the first open reaction from the SAD, who is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre. Sarup Chand Singla is considered as a hindu face of the SAD in the malwa area. He has been CPS in the Parkash Singh Badal government attached with excise & taxation portfolio.