The Hindu : Life hit as traders observe bandh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Life hit as traders observe bandh

By Our Staff Correspondent

HOSPET March 31. Life in Hospet city was affected following a near total bandh on Monday by traders in protest against the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) system.

Shops and business houses, cinemas, hotels remained closed.

However, the agitators did not force educational institutions to close down in view of the examination. They allowed movement of mofussil buses.

Traders, under the banner of the Hospet Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other merchants associations, took out a procession, carrying placards and shouting slogans, in support of their demand and submitted a memorandum to the Assistant Commissioner to be sent to the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna.

D.Panduranga Shetty, Chamber President, said that tax had to be collected under VAT at every point of sale and even a minor mistake on the part of traders warranted action by the authorities concerned.

Though the Government claimed that VAT was consumer/trader friendly, its introduction would pave the way for large-scale corruption and force traders, including small and tiny ones, to maintain accounts besides imposing tax on essential commodities which would burden consumers, especially the poor.

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