Date:28/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/28/stories/2006092816640300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Gold merchants to down shutters

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: Registered gold merchants in the State would close their shops on Thursday and Friday in protest against the alleged discriminatory attitude of the Government towards gold merchants and the statements by Ministers belittling them, said the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants' Association State president P.T. Cherian Palathra.The decrease in tax revenue from gold trade sector was the natural outcome of decrease in tax from 5.75 per cent to one per cent when VAT was implemented.

While the registered gold merchants in the State who numbered 3,500 paid tax regularly, more than 8,000 illegal shops functioned without paying tax.