The oil tankers’ association has warned of a state wide strike in case if the government doesn’t not roll back the VAT charges.  The association has said that it would resort to strike from April 16. Briefing the media about their demands, the association president Eeshwara Rao and secretary Kumaraswamy have said that the State Government has imposed  a hefty 14.5 value added tax on the oil tankers. To make a point, the duo said such high per cent VAT was not effective in any other state. They have also pointed out that the income tax department directed them to pay tax from 2003.

Expressing their vain, the association members said they would be forced to sell their property in order to pay Rs. 400 crore towards VAT.  They have also said that VAT would not be applicable on transportation  of petroleum products.

It may be recalled that jewellery association already staged protest by rolling down shutters for weeks together on imposed VAT. Now oil tankers are in the queue. In case if oil tankers keep their word, then the transportation would be paralyzed. The VAT issue is most likely to show an impact on bypolls besides other issues including corruption and YSR Congress party. One has to wait and watch as to how Congress is going to handle these issues.  All in all, Kiran sarkar is having a bumpy ride.(Phani)