The bars and permit rooms across Maharashtra remained closed on Monday to protest against the state government's decision, said the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR). Pics/Ashish Raje and Satej Shinde
"As many as 19,200 bars and permit rooms in Maharashtra remained shut today to protest the state government's tax hikes, including rise in VAT (value added tax) on liquor from five to 10 per cent, a 15 per cent increase in annual licence fees and a 60 per cent spike in excise duty, all in a year," Vijay Shetty of AHAR told PTI
The bandh is a protest against the 'triple tax tsunami' that has struck the industry in less than a year, AHAR said in a statement
"The entire hospitality sector in Maharashtra is bleeding. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Maharashtra bars were shut against the state government's draconian taxation," it said
Earlier, permit rooms and bars in Mumbai were on Sunday seen preparing to observe statewide bandh on July 14
Last week, Vijay K Shetty, General Secretary of the Indian Hotels and Restaurant Association (AHAR), the association has opposed these tax hikes for the past 15 months
Maharashtra’s permit rooms and bars collectively employ around 20 lakh people. With these steep and 'draconian' tax hikes, all of those jobs are now at risk, Shetty had said
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