'Anti-trader VAT provision not to be accepted'

Lucknow, Dec 14 (UNI) Akhil Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal today said if Uttar Pradesh government implements Value Added Tax (VAT) without editing the 'anti-trader' provisions, they would not accept it at any cost.

''There is a section of traders, who are negligent about VAT, which would change the 60-yr-old tax tradition in the state...we would not welcome it in its present form as there are scores of provisions, which are against us,'' Mandal president Sandeep Bansal told a news conference here this evening.

He said on December 19, a meeting has been organised, where Trade Tax officials would enlighten traders about VAT.

''We have demanded from the state government to remove 25 controversial provisions from VAT. I have alrady written a letter to Chief Minister Mayawati and the concerned department in this regard,'' Mr Bansal informed.

The Mandal president further demanded from the state government to implement VAT from April one instead of New Year as the traders would be faced with hardships, if it gets applied in the current financial year.

Meanwhile, UP Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi said the party would decry VAT implementation in the state, a report from Faizabad said.

She said the CM ought not to implement VAT in a hurry. It should make efforts to solve the puzzles of the traders.

UNI