BJP to organise rally to support traders

LUCKNOW: The BJP will organise a rally here on November 18 to protest against the alleged atrocities committed on the traders in form of various taxes by the state government.
    
Addressing mediapersons here on Sunday, senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon alleged that the present state government's VAT policy is completely against the interests of the traders.
    
He said, "The steps taken by the state government is completely anti-development and this could be proved by the fact that almost 26,000 small and medium scale enterprises have been closed."
    
Criticising the BSP government, Tandon said that BJP was completely against the implementation of VAT in UP.
    
"VAT has been increased from four per cent to 12.5 per cent and simultaneously entry tax has gone up from one per cent to five per cent. The rise in entry tax has also made diesel dearer and this is directly affecting the farmers," Tandon said.
    
The November 18 rally will be held at Jyotibha Phule Park here and BJP president Rajnath Singh will be addressing it.
    
"There are nearly 40 trades, which are facing the adverse effects of increase in VAT. And it is surprising that while we are urging the Centre to reduce the price of oil, the UP government all of a sudden decides to hike the entry tax on diesel," Tandon added.