KVVIES Youth Wing led a protest against the professional tax hike and unauthorized street vending in Kochi, resulting in the arrest of key leaders who were later released on bail.
Kochi: The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) Youth Wing, Ernakulam District Committee, staged a strong protest against the increase in professional tax and the rise of unauthorized street vending by laying siege to the Kochi Corporation office. Protesters attempted to breach police barricades, leading to the arrest of District President Pradeep Jose and key leaders Sushil Kothari, P.P. Rahul, K.C. Suneesh, K.C. Muralidharan, Shihab, and C.K. Riyas, who were later released on bail.
The protest march, which began at Rajendra Maidan, was flagged off by KVVES State Vice President P.C. Jacob and culminated in a demonstration in front of the Kochi Corporation office. Inaugurating the protest, A.J. Shahjahan, KVVES State Vice President and Youth Wing State Coordinator, stated that the professional tax hike would severely impact over one million traders, making it impossible for small businesses to survive. He urged the government to reconsider its decision to avoid devastating consequences for local traders.
State Vice President P.C. Jacob, in his keynote address, accused the government of deliberately pushing small traders out of business. KVVES Youth Wing District President Pradeep Jose presided over the meeting, which was attended by key leaders, including Jimmy Chackiath, Abdul Razak, Jaya Peter, M.C. Paulson, Edward Forstus, Abdul Shukoor, Vinod Baby, Ajmal Kambayi, Srinath Mangalath, and Jamsheer Vazhail.
The protestors declared that they would escalate their agitation if the government failed to roll back the professional tax hike and address the concerns of small businesses. They warned that traders across Kerala would unite in large-scale protests to protect their livelihoods.
