Commercial establishments in major cities in Madhya Pradesh remained closed today as part of a bandh called to protest "anomalies and complexities" in the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Shops in main cities like Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and Jabalpur pulled down their shutters while commercial activities remained suspended in small towns as well.
The bandh was called by various organisations of traders. In the State Capital, important commercial markets like MP Nagar, New Market, Chowk, Bairagarh, BHEl township etc largely remained closed. "We are not against the GST but are protesting its anomalies and complexities. The Centre is going to impose this new tax regime without any prior preparation. The government has not taken traders into confidence," Bhopal Chamber of Commerce and Industries general secretary Vishnu Bansal told.
He said different tax slabs under GST will affect rates of almost 1,500 items covered under grocery business. Traders will also have to face practical problems due to varying tax slabs, he added. Bansal said a total of 72 traders' organisations extended their support to the bandh. According to Bansal, business in almost all major cities and towns was affected due to the bandh.
Commercial activities were also hit in Indore, the commercial capital of the state, where main market areas like Rajbada wore a deserted look. Grocery market in Siyaganj, food grains market in Sanyogitaganj and Sarafa Bazar also remained closed. President of Indore's Ahilya Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Ramesh Khandelwal said the new tax regime would entirely disturb the current set up of traders.
He said that most of the essential commodities fall under the higher tax slab in the GST. "The chamber, along with other traders' organisations, will launch a hunger strike as well as a 'dharna' from July 2 in support of the demand to remove various anomalies in the GST," he added.
President of Bhopal Chamber of Commerce and Industries lalit Jain said that all associations of traders have supported the strike against the implementation of GST. The traders are demanding simplification of GST before its implementation and removal of discrepancies.
Indian Industries and Market Group called for the country wide strike. In the state Bhopal Chamber of Commerce and Industries supported the strike. The transporter and hotels supported the strike by keeping their business closed.
Protestors, however kept the milk, vegetables, retail medicine shops and emergency services away from the strike.
National vice-president and State in-charge of Confederation of All India Traders Radheshyam Maheswari was of different view from the protesting traders as he said traders do not want any anti social activities and the organisation is with the Government. To implement GST in the country is a challenge and there are some practical hurdles which would get sorted after implementation.
He emphasized that those involved in the strike and staging protest want to gain fame and establish their image.
Traders are demanding removal of punishment, e- bill should be imposed on traders, filing of return every three month in place of one month, removal of clause which makes buyer responsible if seller has not paid GST and simplified GST with single slab of taxes not more than 15 percent.