UP traders observe hunger strike against VAT

Lucknow, Dec 26 (UNI) Traders affiliated to the Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal today started their four-day-long hunger strike to protest the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) regime in the state from New Year.

The agitation was held in front of the Vidhan Sabha precincts, where the traders observed hunger strike to oppose the new tax system, which they claimed was anti-trader.

The agitation will continue till December 29.

Traders of several districts in the state also observed hunger strike and they will continue to do so till the end of this month.

Mandal general secretary T N Agarwal here alleged that the government officials would start harassing the traders once VAT was imposed.

''Inspector raj will automatically come into force after this new tax regime was implemented,'' Mr Agarwal said.

Yesterday, the traders had faxed a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to prevent the state government from imposing VAT from January 1, 2008.

UNI