Mumbai, Mar 24: The indefinite strike by single screen theatre owners in Maharashtra over new octroi norm, entered the sixth day on Wednesday even as the state government insisted that the theatre owners should first pass on to the customers the benefit of 10 per cent reduction as agreed upon in admission fee. The theatre onwers said they would continue the strike till the state government reduces entertainment duty and service charges, according to the sources at Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association of India (CEAI) in Mumbai.

The theatre owners, protesting the `failure' of the government to implement the new tax policy, said the strike from March 19 would continue as there is a delay in the implementation of the orders passed in the state legislature in December 2003, and assented by the Governor in the first week of January, 2004. Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of a summit organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in Mumbai on Wednesday, state Chief Secretary Ajit Nimbalkar said the theatre owners should pass on the benefit to the consumers as per the earlier agreement and understanding.

"Till such benefit does not reach the consumers, the government will not be able to do anything," he said.
Bureau Report