CPM backs textile traders against VAT

Vijayawada: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) city committee staged a protest rally forming human chain at Besant Road here on Monday expressing solidarity with the protesting textile traders against Value Added Tax (VAT). Speaking on the occasion, the CPM city secretary, Ch Babu Rao, said that the traders were already paying several taxes to the government and the present VAT would be an additional burden on the textile community. He flayed the government for lenient towards tax defaulters, including big politicians and industrialists and at the same time fleecing the small traders like cloth merchants. He took exception to the attitude of the government on proposing to collect thousands of crores by levying tax on sensitive commodities like cloth which would ultimately hit the common man. He feared that the government's decision would ultimately put burden on poorer sections of the society and deprive them of buying essential clothes. Besant Road Textile Traders Association president and secretary P Bhima Rao and Chillapalli Nageswara Rao respectively, Vastralatha Traders Association president and secretary Raghuram and Narasimha Rao were also present. They thanked the CPM city committee for extending solidarity to their agitation.