All the main markets of the city here on Thursday remained closed following a joint call given by as many as 105 business organisations against what they describe faulty provisions in the GST. Medical shops, milk, fruits and vegetable shops however, were allowed to remain open.
On Thursday afternoon representatives of the Yashwant Road Vyapari Association while describing the GST as black law, took out a funeral procession of the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister as a mark of protest against the GST provisions and burnt their effigies.
Amid presence of large numb er of police jawans, the striking representatives of business associations chanted slogans against GST and demanded its revocation. The traders while expressing their ire against the GST, said the Union government without taking businessmen into confidence has imposed this black law on them, causing a bloody blow to small businessmen and their families. They said if the Union government did not withdraw the tax rates imposed in the GST, the traders will be constrained to scale up their agitation at the national level. Notable among those who took part in the demonstration included Vyapari Sangh president Bimal Jain, convenor Manzoor Beig.
A large number of traders, businessmen owing their allegiance to business organisations took part in the demonstration.
Among the main markets of the city which completely remained closed included Cloth Market, Siyaganj, Marothiya Bazaar, all grain mandis, tiles, auto parts shop, readymade garment, plywood, bakery, cement shops among others.
Keeping in view the bandh call given by business associations, security measures in the city had been tightened with deputation of 400 jawans of special police team, besides deputing 25 patrolling teams to take stock of the law and order positions.