DW BUREAU / Chandigarh The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Transport Wing will hold a 'dharna' in front of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh's residence ? New Moti Bagh palace at Patiala on July 12 to highlight the plight of the transport sector and demand transporters be exempted from road tax for one year besides calling for a fifty per cent reduction of State VAT on petroleum products. Addressing a press conference on this issue here, senior SAD leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra said representatives of this sector including rickshaw owners, truck, taxi, school bus and auto rickshaw owners from each stand in the State would hold a symbolic two hour dharna in front of the chief minister's residence at Patiala on July 12. He said in case the government did not take corrective action, the Transport Wing would hold a State wide protest rally in August to press for its demands. He also announced that the Transport wing would support the protest call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) against rise in fuel prices tomorrow. Giving further details, Prof Chandumajra said trucks, school buses, taxis and auto rickshaws should be exempt from payment of road tax for one year because their owners were unable to ply their trade due to Covid restrictions for more than one year. He said besides this there was an urgent need to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel as it had made the transport sector unprofitable besides increasing inflation for the common man. Stating that the Punjab government was profiting from the misery of the people and was refusing to reduce VAT which was at an all time high, Prof Chandumajra said State VAT should be reduced by fifty per cent immediately on petroleum products. (editor@dailyworld.in)