Commission agents, locally known as 'Arhtiyas', on Tuesday, went on a four-day strike in Punjab in protest against the 'intimidatory' raids by the Income Tax Department on them for supporting the farmers' agitation against the Central farm laws. Punjab has two federations - the Punjab Arhtiyas Association led by Ravinder Singh Cheema and the Federation of Arhtiyas led by Vijay Kalra -- and both went on strike.
The federation said that these tax raids were conducted on the 'Arhtiyas' for showing solidarity with the protesting farmers at the Delhi borders.
Ravinder Singh Cheema, "All the Arhtiyas will keep their shops shut in the protest against the revengeful act of the Central government towards them for supporting the farmers' agitation.”
According to the Punjab government, 14 prominent Arhtiyas in the state has received tax notices.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on December 19 castigated the Centre for its intimidatory tactics against the commission agents supporting the agitating farmers adding that such draconian actions would further worsen people’s insecurities against the BJP-led Central government.
Amarinder Singh said these Income Tax raids are tactics to control the democratic rights and freedom of farmers and people and oppressive actions will go against the ruling BJP.
Chief Minister Singh said it was obvious that the ruling Centre has failed in persuading and divide the farmers into ending the extended protest against the 'black' farm laws, thus, the Central government was now trying to weaken their struggle by targeting the 'Arhtiyas', who have been actively supporting the agitation since day one.
The IT raids were conducted at the premises of several big 'Arhtiyas' within just four days after issuing notices, without waiting for responses to the notices, Amarinder Singh noted, dubbing it a clear debasement of the due process of law.
Singh pointed that neither the local police were informed nor taken into confidence about the raids which is a normal procedure, instead, the CRPF was used to provide security during the raids by the Income Tax teams.