Will abolish VAT on textiles if voted to power: Jagan

Y S R Congress Party president Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday assured textile traders that if his party came to power in the state in the next elections he would sign the first file exempting them from VAT.

Addressing textile traders, who were protesting in front of the Revenue Divisional Office in Narsaraopeta, Guntur district demanding lifting of VAT, Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the state government for not responding to their demand on VAT. The textile traders were agitating against VAT since January 24. He said that imposition of VAT had affected more than 1.5 lakh retail, semi-retail and wholesale textile traders in the state.

Unlike other states, he said the Andhra Pradesh government had imposed 5 percent VAT. This, he said, caused a burden of Rs 1,400 on each family. This high percentage was forcing many to shut down their business, he added. He warned that if this situation continued many would be rendered unemployed.

By imposing heavy taxes, he said the government wanted to fund  welfare schemes launched for the benefit of the poor and the downtrodden. He alleged that Congress leaders were ‘seeking the blessings’ of party president Sonia Gandhi with an eye on political posts. “They are not bothered about solving people’s problems”, he added.

Jagan Mohan Reddy warned that he would intensify his agitation if the government failed to lift VAT on textile traders immediately.