TURA: A decision by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to bring out a new rate for the renewal of trading by non-tribal (TNT) licenses has been strongly opposed by the BJP in Garo Hills, who has termed it as “extremely steep” and coming at a time when trade and commerce has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Garo Hills unit of the BJP accused the GHADC authorities of taking undue advantage of the ongoing lockdown situation and raising the renewal fees without taking into account public opinion.
“Our BJP MDC, Bhupendra Hajong, had opposed the move to raise the fees but his opinion was not acknowledged,” claimed BJP leader, Bernard Marak, in a statement.
“Non tribal traders fear to raise voice against the decision of the executive committee but the price rise in the market right from vegetables, hardware goods, etc. is a sign of how it impacts the whole society of Garo Hills and some traders are not willing to renew which will adversely encourage benami in Garo Hills,” Marak added.
The saffron party also accused the Council authorities of indulging in harassment of the trading community with the decision to suddenly raise the trade fees steeply.
“The excuse that the fees have been raised after ten years is unwarranted. Gradual increase was okay but fixing a high rate at once during lockdown is unjustified. There has to be some balance in society during the lockdown,” complained the BJP leaders from Garo Hills.