Income Tax Department has raided several wealthy grain merchants in Punjab over the weekend. It may be noted that income from agriculture produce is tax free but the income has to be declared for the purpose of computation. This is where the catch is. Most of these middle man who trade in grains are called adatiya or arhatiya which is a unique profession of financer cum wholesale trader rolled into one.
Protest in Delhi
Today may be 26th day of so called farmers protest in Delhi but from the day one it is known that these protesters are demanding the repeal of laws reforming the agriculture sector at behest of these middle men who operate ‘marketing committee’. Now Chief Minister of Punjab has spilled his beans by slamming Centre over Income Tax raids on ‘arhtiyas’