Trader groups against VAT; split on ways to protest

Lucknow, Dec 30 (UNI) Several traders' bodies in Uttar Pradesh will protest the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime in Uttar Pradesh from January 1, but are split on the ways to register their protest.

One such group, the All-India Samajwadi Vyapar Mandal -- affiliated to the Opposition Samajwadi Party -- is organising a 'buddhi shuddhi' (mind cleansing) havan on the banks the holy confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati in Allahabad on Tuesday. The proposed havan is aimed at cleansing the minds of trader leaders who, according to the organisation, have so far failed to gather on a single platform to protest implementationof VAT in UP.

''Despite our repeated efforts, the various traders' bodies have failed to collect on a single platform to protest VAT. Solotary efforts would not make much difference on the opinion of the government,'' All-India Samajwadi Vyapar Mandal national president Radheyshyam Gupta told reporters here.

''A civil disobedience movement should be launched against implementation of VAT...it cannot be achieved by the efforts of a single organisation. But unfortunately, the various traders' leaders are busy furthering their personal politica interests,'' he lamented.

UNI