Traders plan Mahasammelan in Vadodara to oppose octroi

Vadodara, Jun 29 (UNI) Traders in Gujarat have called for a ''Mahasammelan'' of their community and associations here on July 1 to chalk out future course of action in support of their demand for abolition of Octroi.

Criticising the Narendra Modi government for taking a half-hearted decision to do away with octroi from November this year, all Vadodara Vyapaar Vikar Association (AVVVA) convener Paresh Parikh today alleged ''this is nothing but a well calculated move to divide the traders' unity and their on-going agitation against octroi.'' The AVVVA leader said,''We have called the Mahasammelan of the representatives of all traders' associations in seven municipal corporations--Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Junagadh with a view to intensify our agitation as the government has proposed no alternative to octroi.'' Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Parikh claimed that about 50 MPs and MLAs including some rebel BJP legislators, had given their consent to participate in the meet, being organised for the first time since the anti-octroi movement began in the state, nearly a couple of years back.

UNI