Gujarat: Bhartiya Kisan Sangh opposes 2% TDS on Rs 1 crore withdrawal

The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, the farmer's wing of the RSS, has written to the Centre opposing the 2% TDS on withdrawal of Rs1 crore and more. The organization in a letter has said that this was putting additional burden on farmers of the state in buying and selling their produce.

The organisation has also raised apprehensions about the diktat that from September 1 onwards all payments have to be made in cheque and said the markets and mandis have threatened to down their shutters to oppose the same.

President of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in Gujarat Vitthalbhai Dudhatra in a letter to MOS Purshottam Rupala said that the 2% TDS will further have a severe impact on the agri traders, who operate in various markets of the state. He said the government's decision that farmers be paid via cheque will further lead to exploitation of small and marginal farmers.

"The various markets in Unjha and North Gujarat has decided to down their shutters from September 1 if the decision to pay by cheque is not rolled back," said Dudhatra. He said this will force small and marginal farmers to sell to middlemen and will further lead to their exploitation.

He said even in places where the payments are being made by cheque, several cases of cheques being not honoured were coming to the fore.