Punjab excise and taxation officials to go on indefinite strike from Wednesday

LUDHIANA: More than 1,000 officials of state excise and taxation department ranging from inspector to additional commissioner-level have decided to go on indefinite strike from Wednesday.
The officials were already on mass casual leave for the past two days (Monday and Tuesday) to protest the vigilance bureau's (VB) recent FIRs and arrests in cases against their colleagues on charges of corruption.
Due to the absence of the officers of all the ranks since Monday and the indefinite strike, there is high risk of passers (members of gang involved in illegal movement of goods without paying tax) making best use of this opportunity to fleece the government and illicit liquor traders too having a free run. In addition, the works of tax payers and professionals have been held up as no official is available in the department to resolve their issues.
Speaking to TOI on condition of anonymity, a senior officials of the department said, “the government is facing huge revenue loss. All the anti-tax evasion and anti-liquor mafia operations have been jeopardised because of our absence from the offices. But we are totally helpless and have been forced to take the step of going on indefinite strike and mass casual leave because of the on going situation in which our colleagues are being targeted by vigilance bureau without proper evidence. Moreover, till now we have got no response on our demands put forward to chief minister, chief secretary and other senior officials.”