Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today appealed to the traders not to hold people to ransom by resorting to strike on the issue of Local Body Tax (LBT), saying negotiations were possible.
The new tax, which replaces octroi, came into effect in some cities this month.
"Traders should not take an adamant stand by resorting to strike and holding people to ransom. The issue can be resolved through further negotiations," he said.
Local traders have threatened an indefinite strike from April 15 if the government insisted on the new tax.
Chavan said the monthly turn-over figure of Rs 1 lakh, which necessitates registration under LBT, could be raised to give relief to about seventy to eighty per cent of small traders in the state.
To a question about the recent controversial statement on the water scarcity situation by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Chief Minister said it was unfortunate but Pawar had already apologised for it.
