Samajvadi Party calls for UP bandh today

The Samajwadi Party has given a call for UP bandh on January 1 against the government’s decision to impose VAT in the state.

Addressing a joint press conference, party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhary and state president of Vyapar Sabha Ved Prakash Gupta said all traders will down their shutters against the government’s decision.

They said the SP had opposed the imposition of VAT despite immense pressure from the Central government. The Mulayam government had shown a hike of 27 per cent in revenue without VAT. The Planning Commission had also praised the then government on the count.

They said VAT was being imposed following pressure from MNCs and big retailers. They said it was anti-consumer and anti-shopkeeper and added it would also be a handy tool for officials to harass the shopkeepers.

Source : The Times of India, dated 01/01/2008