SALES TAX SCARE GRIPS SHOPKEEPERS

SALES TAX SCARE GRIPS SHOPKEEPERS

1-APRIL-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------On Tuesday, a situation akin to a complete lockdown prevailed in the Garhani market due to the apprehension of a raid by the Sales Tax Department. Panic spread among the traders, leading to the shutters of shops being pulled down and an eerie silence descending upon the market.

A situation resembling a complete lockdown persisted throughout Tuesday in the Garhani market of Bhojpur district. The cause was not a call for a general strike, but rather the panic stemming from the fear of a raid by the Sales Tax (State Tax) Department. News of this impending action caused a stir among traders, and within moments, the shutters of shops in the main market area were hurriedly pulled down. Silence hung over the markets throughout the day, bringing business worth lakhs of rupees to a complete standstill. Shortly after the market opened in the morning, as rumors of the inspection team's arrival began to circulate, the main thoroughfares of Garhani fell silent. The shutters of large establishments—including grocery stores, textile shops, mobile phone outlets, electronics stores, and sweet shops—remained firmly shut. Common people who had traveled from distant villages to shop were forced to return empty-handed. People were even seen wandering in search of essential medicines. At tea stalls and street corners, traders engaged in continuous discussions regarding the department's potential next steps. The situation in the Garhani market appeared normal on Tuesday morning; however, by afternoon, verbal reports circulated that the inspection team was on its way. Instantly, owners of large establishments pulled down their shutters. Smaller shopkeepers, too, deemed it unwise to take any risks; they closed their shops and headed home. The only people visible in the market were street vendors and hawkers, who typically fall outside the purview of the tax regime.

Garhani serves as a major commercial hub in the Bhojpur district, facilitating daily transactions worth lakhs of rupees. This sudden, undeclared shutdown resulted not only in financial losses for the traders but also had an adverse impact on the revenue accruing to the government. Many traders stated that they were compelled to keep their shops closed out of fear of the department's survey process, as small traders often have to face unnecessary hassles regarding paperwork formalities.