Himachal entry tax hike: Haryana residents protest at Barotiwala; demand HP govt to roll back move

The protesters, in Solan district’s Barotiwala, were led by local panchayat representatives and local leaders who raised slogans against the state government over their move

Haryana residents on Monday staged a protest against the Himachal Pradesh government for hiking entry tax to the state, demanding waiver of the toll tax within a 5 km radius from the border.

The protesters warned that they would intensify their movement if the government did not fulfil their demand and would also block the road. (HT Photo for representation)

The protesters, in Solan district’s Barotiwala, were led by local panchayat representatives and local leaders who raised slogans against the state government over their move. During the protest, they reportedly made the entry toll-free for some time. Following this, the Haryana and Himachal Pradesh police reached the scene to control the situation.

Protesters said they share deep social and familial ties with Himachal Pradesh and travel frequently to various religious places such as Haripur and Baba Balak Nath. They said that the hike in the tax will put an additional financial burden on the people, especially those living near border areas.

The protesters warned that they would intensify their movement if the government did not fulfil their demand and would also block the road. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the state government regarding their demand through the Baddi tehsildar.