Govt. charge customs duty on goods above Rs. 100 spark protest by Madhesi youths

“Cancel customs duty,” “respect Madhesi people,” “Don’t kill the poor people,” youths from the Madhesi communities chanted slogans carrying placards in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Around one hundreds youths belonging to Madhesi community staged anti-government protests in Maitighar Mandala of Kathmandu on Saturday opposing the government’s recent move that makes it mandatory for people crossing the border into Nepal pay customs duty for bringing in goods worth more than Rs. 100.

The government has imposed customs duty on goods being brought from India above Rs. 100 since mid-April or Baisakh 1, 2083 the Nepalese New Years day that has hugely affected life in the Terai, the southern plains of Nepal bordering India.

The imposition of tax on small items being brought from across the border by people living in the border area have not only obstructed free movement of people across the broder but also damaged our centuries old relations, which is known as Roti Beti relations, said Kaushal Kumar Sing, president of Other Backward Class (OBC) Federation, Nepal.

People living in the border area, who used to bring small items such as daily necessity goods, food items, clothings and gift items from India for their personal use now cannot bring them with the new rule in place, he pointed out.

People living in the Terai freely move between the two countries carrying small items are mostly affected by the decision, he added. Sporadic protests were organized against the decision in Sralahi, Parsa, Siraha and Dhanusha against the move on Friday and Saturday, according to Singh. The protests will spread in other districts of the Madhes province in the days to come, if it is not withdrawn, he added.

People who do shopping for their wedding and other festivals are also directly affected by the imposition of customs duty, according to Singh.

Similarly, Nepal – India Open Border Dialogue Committee has issuing a statement urged the government to arrange custom free transport movement for 48 hours to those visiting bordering towns and traveling to important religious sites and zero customs duty on house hold items.