On the International Women’s day, the female members of the families of Sarafa traders joined the strike.
This is the seventh day of the nationwide strike of sarafa traders against the excise duty imposed by the Central Government. As the days are passing, the strike against the excise duty is taking an aggressive form.
Women fasted and prayed for better wisdom to Union Finance Minister so that he can see the suffering of the Sarafa traders and also threatened to come out of the house and take part in the agitation openly.
Women on the International women’s day changed the theme into a fight against imposition of excise duty. In the meeting of the businessmen, held in Bhopal, a joint strike committee was formed in which representatives of city’s 12 Sarafa associations participated.
The artisans who entered into strike came together and appealed that due to the closure of their trade, they are on the verge of being broke, as there are more than 300 families dependant on this trade. The artisans and melting and making workers are forced to sell vegetables to earn their livelihood.
On Wednesday, at 12 noon a dharna would be staged at Bairagarh Sarafa market. Staring at 1 pm, street plays would be held at Bairagarh and at 2 pm, a human chain would be formed and roads would be blocked.
The working committee member of the Bhopal Sarafa Association Navneet Agrawal said that the president of Sarafa Association in Uttar Pradesh has met Finance Minister but no assurance came from him. “We stick to our indefinite strike until a resolution comes out,” said Agrawal.