BHUBANESWAR: The Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Associations (FAOTA) on Saturday agreed to call off its stir demanding withdrawal of five per cent VAT imposed by the State Government on essential commodities.
The traders agreed to withdraw the strike after a meeting with Government representatives including Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat, Minister of State for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma and senior officials.
FAOTA general secretary Sudhakar Panda said a formal announcement of withdrawal of stir will be made after a decision is taken in this regard at the general body meeting on Sunday.
Panda said Government is considering the demand of the traders. “The Government has taken time till May 26 when the Budget session of Assembly will over,” he said.
After the meeting, the Finance Minister announced that the traders’ body has agreed to withdraw the stir. All the demands were discussed at the meeting convened by the State Government, Amat said and added that the matter will be discussed in detail after the Budget session of the Assembly.
Traders had stopped import of essential commodities demanding withdrawal of five per cent VAT imposed on pulses, wheat and wheat-products by the State Government. FAOTA maintained that though 25 States have exempted VAT on pulses, wheat and wheat-products, the Odisha Government is levying the tax.