By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 3, 2016 : Traders body, Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Associations (FAOTA) on Sunday announced to suspend its strike till May 26.

Earlier, the FAOTA had announced to suspend the agitation on Saturday following a meeting with finance minister, Pradeep Amat. But after the approval by its general body meeting, the traders’ body finally announced to end the stalemate till May 26 next.

Emerging out of the general body meeting, FAOTA general secretary Sudhakar Panda said, “After a meeting with the state government yesterday, a written assurance from the Chief Secretary and CMO’s intervention, we have decided to suspend our import ban till May 26. However, we will reconsider our options if the government doesn’t take any action by that time.”

It will take at least four days for the imports of essential commodities to be normal.

“We have sufficient stock of essential commodities and the consumers shouldn’t worry. However, there has been a minor price rise of certain commodities such as Palmolein oil, sugar etc. We urge the consumers to cross check the price with our bulletins every day and report cases of overpricing to the government and us,” he added.

FAOTA had stopped the import of essential commodities such as pulses, wheat and wheat products, sugar, rice and edible oil from other states starting April 1 protesting against 5% value added tax (VAT) imposed on these items by the state government.

The traders’ body has been citing that as many as 25 states have exempted VAT on pulses, wheat and wheat products and has been demanding imposition of unitary tax instead of 5% VAT on these items.