UP traders to go on indefinite strike over new tax structure

Lucknow, Sep 22 (UNI) Annoyed with the rise in tax of several items including soap, tea, coffee, fruit juice, computer, hardware and others, traders under the banner of Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Pratinidih Mandal will go on an indefinite strike from tomorrow.

The traders today announced that all the wholesale market of hardware, iron, foodgrains would be closed from tomorrow in Kanpur, Lucknow and few other places till the Mayawati government withdraws the hiked taxes.

Mandal's state general secretary Triloki Nath Agarwal and treasurer Laxmi Narayan Agarwal in a joint press conference here said traders were annoyed with the government decision as the hike would certainly affect their business.

''Increasing the tax to 12.5 per cent on several items, the government has shifted the burden to the consumers leading to rise of prices of several essential commodities,'' they claimed.

The traders union leaders maintained that the hike of taxes would lead to smuggling of goods from neighbouring states where the taxes were low while the people will have to feel the brunt.

The leader urged all the traders to join their agitation against the government and jointly force them to withdraw the new taxes.

The UP government had hiked the rate of VAT on several commodities from 4 to 12 per cent and even reintroduced entry tax on several items to raise their revenue collection in the current fiscal year.

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