Jharkhand traders protest VAT on blankets

RANCHI - Traders here Thursday took out a march to the chief minister’s house to protest imposition of value added tax (VAT) on blankets and other cloth items.

The state government Jan 12 imposed a VAT of 4 percent on blankets, towels, napkins and handkerchiefs. Earlier, there was no such tax on these items.

The tax was imposed when the entire state is shivering due to the cold wave and more than 160 people have lost their lives in the current winter season.

Pankaj Poddar, president, Thokh Vastra Bikreta Sangh, said: “The imposition of VAT would hardly yield any substantial revenue to the government but it would only pave way for the Inspector Raj.The dealers from throughout the state would launch a mega agitation if the decision was not reversed immediately.”