Journalism of Courage
In spite of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announcing some measures to dilute Local Body Tax (LBT) norms,the traders associations in Pune on Friday declared a statewide token bandh for two days from Monday.
We will withdraw our agitation only if the government considers our demands and publishes a resolution, traders have said.
President of the association Popatlal Oswal said the statewide bandh from Monday will be for two days,but if the government fails to publish the resolution by May 7,an indefinite bandh would be called.
We have received a detailed note from the government regarding a limited acceptance of our demands. We are unhappy with it,as the government has met only a few of our demands. However,the traders have decided to respond positively to the governments decision to consider at least some of our demands. We dont want the government to take traders for granted and will withdraw the agitation after the government resolution is published, Oswal said.
Suryakant Pathak of Grahak Panchyat said that some of the decisions taken by the state government were welcome,but their association would continue to press for fulfilment of pending demands.
Several traders are unhappy with the governments decision to take strict action against them for taking part in the bandh,he said,The government is trying to divide the traders by threatening them with action for participating in the bandh.
When asked about the governments claim that with increase of business limit to Rs 3.5 lakh from the earlier Rs 1 lakh,70 per cent traders would be outside the purview of LBT,a trader said,The government is lying and misleading the public. Barely five per cent of the traders would get any reprieve from the increased limit.
The traders union had launched an indefinite strike from April 1 in protest against the implementation of LBT. However,they withdrew that after the government assured them dilution of LBT norms.
The government introduced LBT in place of octroi,which was abolished on March 31.
