Punjab - Traders condemn raids on the pretext of checking price rise

A delegation of traders from the city, led by Chandigarh Beopar Mandal president Charanjiv Singh, participated in the all-India traders’ rally at Ram Lila Ground in New Delhi on Thursday. The rally was organised by Bhartiya Udyog Beopar Mandal.

The traders resolved that raids on food grains, in the guise of checking price rise, needs to be condemned.

They said that the total direct taxes such as excise, CST, VAT, Customs, Octroi, Entry tax service tax and mandi tax among others should not be more than 24 per cent out of which 16 per cent should go to the central government and eight per cent to state governments. Personal income tax should be not more than 20 per cent. VAT on food grains should be exempted throughout the country, it was stated.

It was also said during the rally that an independent Beopar Ministry in the central government should be formed to look after the development of trade within India and the welfare of traders. Pension should also be given to senior traders after the age of 60, it was stated. Among those who participated in the rally were Gursharan Batra, Anil Vohra, Subhash Narang, Ramesh Duggal and Kartar Singh Gulati.

Source : Chandigarh Newsline - Chandigarh, India,  dated 25/04/2008