Even as the Maharashtra government chooses to stand firm on its decision of not rolling back local body tax (LBT), Pune traders await Supreme Court’s decision on the hearing of a writ petition filed by traders’ association on LBT stay.
Maharashtra has been witnessing a slew of protests by traders ever since April 1, when the state government announced the scrapping of octroi duty and introduced the Local Body Tax (LBT) in Pune. This is a tax applicable only in Maharashtra and in no other state in India. While the LBT has been introduced in phases since 2009, in the different cities of Maharashtra like Bhayanagar, Vasai, Kolhapaur, Mumbai (in October 2012), etc, the agitation against it has become more serious only after it was announced for Pune in April 2013. The protests spread like wild fire throughout the state, and intensified to such an extent that traders have gone on a fast unto death till the tax is evoked.
Both the government and the traders have so far refused to relent. Prithviraj Chavan, the chief minister of Maharashtra, has made it clear that the LBT will not be rolled back, but a committee would be set up to look into the traders’ grievances. On the other hand, the trader community has conveyed to the government that their protests will continue and be made more intense till LBT is abolished.
Says Mitesh Mody, action committee member, FAM (Federation of Associations of Maharashtra) and committee member, All India Radio and Electronics Association, west zone (AIREA WZ), “Following the meeting with the CM, it has been concluded that a committee of 10-14 people, which will include five to seven representatives from the government and five to seven from traders’ associations, will work together to solve the issue of the LBT. However, retailers and traders from Mumbai will continue to be a part of the indefinite bandh until a decision is taken by the government in our favour.”
More than 50,000 members of the 750 associations that make FAM have participated in the protests by closing their businesses and have vouched to continue doing so till their demands are met.
If the Supreme Court does not order stay on the decision, then the Pune traders will resort to a market bandh.
