Pictures: Rajinikanth,Vijay, Surya on hunger strike
News
oi-Prakash
By Ramchander
Work
in
Tamil
entertainment
industry
came
to
a
grinding
halt
today
(January
7)
following
one-day
fast
by
the
stakeholders
demanding
scrapping
of
service
tax
levied
by
the
Centre
on
artists
with
superstar
Rajnikanth
joining
other
stars
at
the
protest
here.
Besides
Rajnikanth,
actors
Vijay,
Surya,
Sarathkumar,
Prabhu,
Radhika
are
among
those
who
joined
the
day-long
token
fast
called
by
apex
bodies
of
film
and
TV
actors,
directors,
producers
technicians,
theatre
owners
and
distributors.
The
protesters
contended
that
the
12.36
per
cent
service
tax
levied
by
the
Centre
on
film
and
TV
personalities'
earnings
on
programmes
and
endorsements
would
cast
additional
burden
on
them
as
they
were
already
paying
income
tax.
Noting
that
the
Centre
was
taking
several
measures
to
curb
black
money,
Rajnikanth
observed
that
increasing
taxes
would
only
lead
to
more
black
money.
"They
(Centre)
may
be
aware
of
this
trend.
I
feel
if
stringent
laws
are
framed
to
penalise
tax
defaulters,
that
will
bring
in
more
money
to
the
government," he
said.
"I
hope
they
(Centre)
will
definitely
withdraw
this
service
tax
heeding
to
our
request,"
the
Tamil
superstar
said
in
his
speech
at
the
protest
venue
near
Valluvar
Kottam
in
the
heart
of
the
city.
Rajini
At
Hunger
Strike
A
host
of
personalities
from
film
and
television
industry
including
directors
and
producers,
distributors,
technicians
and
theatre
owners
are
participating
in
the
strike
which
began
at
8
am
and
ends
at
5
pm.
Vijay
With
His
Father
SA
Chandrasekhar
Actor
and
President
of
the
South
Indian
Film
Artistes
Association
Sarathkumar
said
the
entire
entertainment
industry
wanted
the
service
tax
to
be
withdrawn.
Surya
And
Sivaji
Prabhu
Film
and
TV
shooting
and
other
allied
activities
remained
suspended
during
the
protest.
Rajini
With
Sarathkumar
Tamil
Nadu
Theatre
Owners
Association
President
'Abhirami'
Ramanathan
said
all
theatres
in
the
state
would
remain
shut
till
5
pm.