By IANS
Ranchi : Most shops in Jharkhand were shut Friday as traders observed a strike to protest against the taxation system and the government’s failure to protect them from criminals.
“Development in the state has taken a backseat and criminals rule the roost. The situation is so bad that both small and medium scale businessmen are moving to others states,” said Pradeep Jain, secretary of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI).
Businessmen and industrialists are demanding the removal of what they say are anomalies in the Value Added Tax (VAT) system. After the implementation of VAT last year, the sales tax on diesel is 20 percent in Jharkhand against 12 percent in neighbouring Bihar and West Bengal.
They are also against a government proposal to increase agriculture tax from 1 percent to 2 percent.