Patna,(BiharTimes): Cloth merchants of Bihar have started their three-day strike (Jan 29-31) in protest against the hike in VAT by the state government.

Bihar Textile Chamber of Commerce had taken the decision in this regard at a meeting on January 27. All cloth shops in Patna and other twons have been closed.

The Chamber has threatened to intensify their stir if the state government did not withdraw VAT (Value-Addedd Tax). The BJP is supporting the traders demand.

The state cabinet had earlier this month increased VAT on various items from five to13.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP of the BJP R K Sinha has come down heavily on the state government’s decision to increase VAT.

Accusing the Nitish government of misusing treasury he said that the production in the state is not increasing, jobs have shrank and no investment is coming. Migration of work force from Bihar is increasing and the state government has no measures to check it.