FJCCI protests imposition of VAT, calls for bandh tomorrow

Protesting the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on foodgrains and vegetables like potato and onion, the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) has called for a 24-hour bandh tomorrow.

FJCCI president Anchal Kinger today said traders would down shutters of their business establishments and march to the Raj Bhawan.

''The rate of foodgrains, including rice and wheat, and vegetables would increase by two to four rupees every kilogram,'' Mr Kinger said.

He said the common masses as well as nearly five lakh foodgrain traders would be the sufferers owing to the state government's move of imposing four per cent VAT on those items.

He said indefinite closure of shops would be resorted to if both foodgrains and vegetables were not exempted from VAT by June 13.

''We will hand over the keys of our shops to the government if those items were not exempted from VAT,'' the FJCCI president said.