Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 24: The Federation of District Wine Merchants’ Association, Udupi, started a three-day ‘dharna’ in front of the office of DC Rajathadri, Manipal, on Monday March 23 to present their demands at the Karnataka budget session meeting.

Sudhakar Shetty, president of the Association said, “The wine merchants’ association is disappointed with the budget where 5.5 percent of tax is levied on bars and restaurants and demands roll back of the value added tax (VAT).”

“According to the IPS 2009 Act, 28/3/2009, the rate of percentage reduced to 10 from 20 of profit. Nowadays expenditure on goods and services has been increased, so the association is demanding increase in the profit ratio to 25 percent for retailers,” he said.

He further added that there were 32 demands mentioned in the letter and members urged removal of the fine by excusing short lifting on wine and to take measures to fix a tax on food in the bar and restaurants with respect to the type of hotel.

“Excise department should be freed of the police department, lottery, and excise duty,” he added.

Naveen Kumar, Gangandhar Suvarna, Vijay Kumar Manipal, and Manohar Shetty were present.