Traders plan nation-wide strike against VAT

Announcing a 96-hour, country-wide strike against value added tax (VAT) from March 29, the Akhil Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (ABUVM) today said traders will resort to self-immolation in the national capital if the controversial tax was forced on them.

"All big and small business establishments would remain closed during Bharat bandh from March 29 to April 1, the day on which the centre has announced to implement VAT," ABUVM convenor Sandeep Bansal said here.

"If the centre still went ahead and forcibly implemented VAT, traders would immolate themselves in Delhi on April 2," he warned.