Ten day long VAT protest starts in Kolkata
Ten day long VAT protest starts in Kolkata
Wholesale trading activities in West Bengal came to a halt today, which will continue for ten days to mark protest against the implementation of VAT.
The wholesale markets at Posta, Belgachhia, Rajakatra, Armenian Street and Bagri Market will remain closed during this period. This strike will culminate with an all-India Trade Bandh on April 29th - when even the retail shops will down shutters.
The worst hit are the daily labourers like the handcart pullers who reach goods from one place to the other in the city. The ten day strike means that they have no wages for that many days. They say it will be impossible for them to take care of their families for such a long period without any earnings. They want the govt. to intervene in the matter.
“It is very difficult for us. We are facing many problems. How will we earn and take care of our families? The government should do something about the whole issue”, said Mahendra Sau, Handcart Puller.
Announcing the wholesale traders’ decision which will cripple the supply of essential commodities to the consumers, Federation of West Bengal Trade Association Publicity Chairman Mahesh Singhania said that small traders and vegetable and meat sellers had been kept out of the purview of the nationwide strike keeping in view the overall public interest.
“The strike we had called today is for ten days for wholesale dealers who do not make any retail sales, they will be under this strike. We have been trying to make collective pressure on the state Finance Minister and other Finance Minister so that what they had assured us, uniform rate of tax…. traders and consumers friendly Act. Many things have been simplified but yet the proposed law is not at all traders or consumer friendly. So the whole idea is to create pressure on government to consider our issues”, said Mahesh Singhania.
More: 123bharath.com