Protest against VAT

All the wholesale and retail medicine shops observed ‘bandh’ in Lucknow on Wednesday to protest against the hike in value-added-tax (VAT) on surgical instruments from 4 to 12.5 per cent.

The UP Chemists and Druggists Federation (UPCDF) has also warned of a UP ‘bandh’ after 15 days, if the state government does not reverse its “illogical” decision.