CM's intervention sought to end strike

PATNA: Upset over the warning issued by principal secretary, commercial taxes, N K Sinha, that raids against errant traders would continue across the state, the businessmen, who had launched 72-hour strike on Saturday, demanded intervention of CM Nitish Kumar for ending the strike and getting the sealed shops on Exhibition Road reopened.

Sinha on Saturday warned the businessmen of stern action for dubious business deals and regretted promotion of counterfeit products at Exhibition Road's Raza market. He said their activities affected collection of sales tax and hampered growth of the state.

All shops at major commercial centres in Patna remained closed following the 72-hours strike by the businessmen in protest against the arrest of traders.

About 60 shops and godowns were sealed by the officials of the commercial taxes department on Thursday and six traders, who allegedly assaulted a sales tax officer, were arrested. Patna-based traders on Sunday requested the chief minister to get the shops reopened and arrange negotiations between the businessmen and the officials of commercial tax department.

Former president of Bihar Chamber of Commerece and Industries (BYugeshwar Pandey said the government should invite the businessmen for talks to resume the business activities. The CM should look into the grievances of the businessmen also, he said and condemned the assault on a tax official on Exhibition Road on November 27 and appealed to the traders to cooperate with officers.

Former convener of tourism cell of Chamber of Commerce Diljeet Khanna too regretted the incident of assault on sales tax officer and arrest of the businessmen. He said communication should be restored between the department and the businessmen to promote business activities on Exhibition Road.

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