TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had announced a call for a Bharat Bandh today. Several farm organisations protesting the new farm laws also extended support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by transport and trade unions on February 26.
CAIT issued a statement in which they asserted that all commercial markets across the country will remain closed on February 26 against rising fuel prices, the new e-way bill and the goods and services tax (GST). Around 40,000 trade associations joined the protest by participating in the Bharat Bandh.
The statement read,
“We highly regret such a dismal attitude and picture of the GST which has compelled the trade union leaders attending the conference to call for a Bharat Trade Bandh.”
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body leading the farmers protest appealed to the farmers to join the protest peacefully. Farm leader Dr Darshan Pal added that the farmers’ associations support the trade unions and their struggle against the rising GST prices.
The All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA), the apex body of the organised road transportation companies also extended support to the CAIT’s call. It released a statement which said, ‘
“Transporters should not be subjected to various penalties issued by the government for any time-based compliance target of transit”.
AITWA president Mahendra Arya added,
“The nature of the movement is to reject booking and movement of all e-way bill oriented goods for one day.”
CAIT asserted that GST is one of the most complex taxation system. It added that
“The GST needs to be simplified to the extent that even a small trader operating his from remote area/s should also be able to comply with GST without any external help.”
Amidst farmers protest, this Bharat Bandh announced by the traders union was against the rising GST prices.
Source: Hindustan Times
