Lukewarm response to trade bandh against GST

Nagpur: The trade bandh called against recent amendments to goods and services tax (GST), called by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), had a marginal impact on Friday.
CAIT had called the bandh against alleged complications of the GST laws. A day after the CAIT had announced the bandh after a conference here, the government had invited the trade leaders for talks.The first round of talks was held on February 16. As there was no further headway, the association went ahead with the bandh.
The bandh evoked poor response in Nagpur, which is the home turf of BC Bhartia, chartered accountant from the city, who heads CAIT, which is billed to be a national association of unorganized traders.
CAIT claimed bandh a total success on the other hand. A press release claimed more than eight crore small business establishments affiliated to 40,000 trade associations in the country kept their shutters down. This has given a strong message to the government, said the press release.
Bhartia told TOI in Nagpur that shops opened only during the second half. The traders here decided to keep shops open because local authorities have announced a two-day lockdown on Saturday and Sunday due to Covid situation. This led to some shops remaining open for consumers’ convenience. There was a total response elsewhere, he claimed.
CAIT had also announced transport strike. Transport also continued as usual, however.
Kukku Marwah of Nagpur Truckers Unity said there was no call from the All India Transport Congress — an umbrella body of the truckers. The call was given by another union, which does not have a major presence in the city.
A press release by Pratap Motwani, secretary of Nagpur Grain and Seeds Merchants association, said the dealers will keep their establishments shut on Saturday and Sunday. Though the traders deal in essential commodities, the association has decided to keep establishments shut considering the rising Covid cases.
Pankaj Agrawal, former president of Nagpur Chilli Merchants’ Association, said there was a nominal support to the strike. Shops dealing in the commodity at Kalamna were seen shut, though.
Dipen Agrawal, a steel merchant and president of Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industries and Trade (CAMIT), said steel traders did not join the strike considering the ensuing two-day closure. The traders worked with black ribbons on their arms as a mark of protest.