VAT implemented in Gujarat, partial bandh by traders

Ahmedabad, Apr 1 (UNI) Gujarat today joined the other states in the country in implementing Value Added Tax (VAT) amid a partial bandh called by the trading community here.

Gujarat Businessmen's Protection Council had given a call for 'Gujarat Bandh' today to protest the 'stringent provision' of VAT Act.

Council's vice-president Jayendra Tanna told UNI that the bandh had evoked a total response in rural areas, as the tax would hit the small and petty traders hard.

He claimed that the bandh was supported by state-level traders' organisations dealing in small businesses such as plywood, stationary, automobile, hardware, garment manufacturers, edible oil and iron and steel merchants.

Mr Tanna said the call had evoked response from chambers and other traders' organisations in many district towns, besides big cities like Vadodara.

However, Gujarat Minister of State for Finance Saurabh Patel told UNI that the bandh had invoked hardly any response in the state, particularly in urban areas.

When asked about the total response in rural areas and small cities and town, Mr Patel stated that the response was due to misconception among the small traders and businessmen.

He claimed that the state government has set a turnover limit of Rs 50 lakh, under which almost all small traders and businessmen will be exempted.

The mixed response to the bandh was due to misinformation among them, once they would understand it properly, their grievances against VAT would be perished, the Minister added.

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