| What makes the letter more significant is the fact that the nearly 300,000 workers in the industry in Agra are dalits and have been supporters of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). |
| According to sources, Rahul Gandhi wrote the letter after the Agra Shoe Manufacturers Association approached him with its complaint. Gandhi pointed out that shoes which were machine made were only charged 4 per cent VAT while handmade shoes, which employs these workers was charged 12.5 per cent. |
| Gandhi has asked that just as chikan work textiles and banarasi silk are exempted from the VAT surcharge, as they fall under the category of local produce, so should handmade shoes be exempt from the tax as it has been the traditional product of Agra. |
| He also pointed out that just as in states like Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana shoes with a maximum retail price of less than Rs 300 were exempt from VAT, so should such shoes in Agra be exempt. |
| The presentation of the VAT form every three months has also become a headache for farmers, according to the Agra shoe Manufacturing Association, and Gandhi has also spoken about this in his letter. |
| Rahul Gandhi had earlier successfully pleaded with the Central government that the National Rural employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) be implemented in all districts of the country, and had also raised the issue of UP's sugar cane farmers being denied arrears by the Mulayam Singh government on the floor of the House. |
| This particular intervention is significant as it takes on Mayawati on her own turf and among her strongest votebank. The letter was dispatched today. |
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