The meeting between the State Government and Odisha Byabasyee Mahasangha (OBM) over the latter’s call to stop import of pulses, wheat and wheat products from April 9 ended inconclusively on Tuesday. The meeting would be held on Wednesday again, sources said.
While the traders have been demanding withdrawal of five per cent VAT on pulses, wheat and wheat products at an earliest, the State Government is maintaining that it would consider their demand after the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the State.
Finance Secretary R Balakrishnan on Tuesday called the traders for a discussion to find out ways, but to no avail. “They (Government) are inviting us for a meeting again on Wednesday. We urge the Government to fulfil our demand failing which the Mahasangh would stop the import of these items from April 9,” said Mahasangha general secretary Sudhakar Panda after the meeting.
Earlier in December last year, the Mahasangh had placed its demand before the Government to withdraw five per cent VAT on pulses, wheat and wheat products and introduce one per cent Entry Tax in its place. But as the Government did not agree to the proposal, the Mahasangh had stopped the import of these items on December 9 last year.