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VAT implemented in 20 states today
By agencies
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Friday, 01 April 2005, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI:The trade strike continued for the third day Friday even as a majority of states switched over to pro-reforms Value Added Tax (VAT) in place of Sales Tax.
While the Empowered Committee on VAT stuck to its stand on implementation of VAT in 20 states, the Confederation of All India Traders is observing the day as a "black day" for the trading community and continued its stir in many parts of the country.
While VAT replaced Sales Tax and a plethora of local taxes in 20 states, sources said Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Meghalaya have decided not to join the league.
Meghalaya will implement VAT after 4-5 days, VAT panel sources said.
Wholesale markets will remain closed on Friday.
"We are continuing our strike against VAT, which will keep prices high and affect the poor," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.
The bandh affected trade in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir on the first two days.
It evoked a mixed response in Delhi, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Punjab.
Traders in Tripura and Karnataka joined the strike on Thursday while there is unlikely to be any response from traders in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Goa and Meghalaya.