Traders call off stir, cent per cent

MUMBAI, December 5: Mumbaiites can finally heave a sigh of relief as the trade and industry organisations today called off their stir over ...

MUMBAI, December 5: Mumbaiites can finally heave a sigh of relief as the trade and industry organisations today called off their stir over the five per cent service tax. Mohan Gurnani of the Federation of Associations’ of Maharashtra (FAM) said on Friday evening that the agitation was called off unanimously following the assurance from the union government to exempt all traders from the tax. This assurance was given to the representatives of FAM when they met the Revenue Secretary at New Delhi recently.

“However, there is still a misunderstanding over the press statement issued by the government which states that only traders registered under Category VIII (those registered with the Central Excise) would be exempted from the service tax,” Gurnani said.

Earlier he said, “We (FAM) have decided to withdraw the agitation, but traders who are not covered under Category VIII will not pay the additional service tax, as their exemption has already been assured by the government. However, if the government goes back on its words and takes action against these traders, we will resume the agitation,” he warned.

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Commodity markets witnessed a rare phenomenon in which trading which had begun on Friday morning came to a halt following the announcement of another agitation by traders. Wholesale and retail markets too witnessed a shortfall in their stocks with prices of essentials soaring high and unaffordable for Mumbaiites.

Meanwhile, the day-long joint meeting convened by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC), the Federation of Associations’ of Maharashtra (FAM), Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) held today, witnessed uproarious scenes when a majority of traders opposed the stand taken by the FAM to withdraw the agitation.

Accusing the union government and the FAM of double standards, the traders maintained that while the government had agreed to exempt all traders from the service tax, the notification to that effect actually exempted only the Category VIII traders.

Vehemently opposing this move of the government, traders belonging to various organisations pointed out that the temporary exemption of tax granted to Category VIII traders was a partial decision and the exemption should be granted to all sections of the trading community including small industries. They have also urged the government to postpone the levy of the said tax till the new government assumed power after the general elections.

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The Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC), in a statement here said traders and small industries were not against government’s efforts to mobilise more revenue and widen tax net, but were against the government’s method of tax collection. The traders were ready for a dialogue with the government officials to find viable alternative sources of revenue.

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