Halwais, bakery owners plan strike

LUDHIANA, Dec 25: Halwais and bakery owners would observe a statewide strike on December 28 to protest against the imposition of five per cent sales tax on packaged sweets and bakery items by the state government.

Addressing a press conference here, Punjab Halwai Union chief Charanjit Singh and Bakery Union president S.S. Bindra described the government decision as arbitrary and uncalled for, quot;particularly when tax is levied on almost 95 per cent of the ingredientsquot;.

They said the sales tax on sweets and bakery products would not generate much revenue and the halwais and bakery owners would be subjected to harassment.