Stir against LBT to continue, says Federation of Associations of Maharashtra

MUMBAI:Even as a section of traders in Maharashtra have agreed to call of their prolonged agitation against the Local Body Tax ( LBT), Federation of Associations of Maharashtra ( FAM) on Tuesday said the protest would continue till the government announces abolition of the new tax.

"Though the traders have opened their shops honouring the advice of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, the stir against LBT will continue," FAM President Mohan Gurnani said in a statement.

Section of traders had agreed to call off the strike after a meeting with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here last night. A delegation of FAM members had met Pawar on Sunday over the issue.

On May 23, FAM has called a high-powered meeting of all the 25 municipal councils and corporations to decide further course of action against the LBT, he said.

"The final decision will be taken in the meeting organised with the Chief Minister and Pawar on May 24. If the government still does not cooperate, then a new mode of fight against it will be decided," Gurnani added.

Traders across Maharashtra have been on an indefinite strike from April 21 to protest against the levy of LBT to replace octroi.