Kerala traders on war path against VAT

Traders in Kerala today stopped stock-taking with immediate effect to oppose implementation of value-added tax in the state from April 1,. They also decided to intensify their stir by observing a 72-hour strike from March 30.

"No stocks, including vegetables and flowers, will enter the state from now and around 10 lakh traders will stop business for three days from Wednesday onwards to protest the implementation of VAT," Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi president T Nasirudeen said.

Stating that the UPA government was trying to bring in VAT here by 'falsely' claiming that 25 states had already implemented it, he asked the state finance minister Vakkom Purushottaman to produce the list of states that had done so.He asked the state finance minister Vakkom Purushottaman to produce the list of states that had implemented VAT.

"We are ready to withdraw our agitation, including the dharna on April 1, if the government discloses the list," he said.

However, medical shops attached to hospitals would not be part of the protest, he added. All trade including functioning of hotels, shops and STD booths would come to a standstill.