Punjab’s textile traders, joining the nationwide call against implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), on Tuesday started three-day strike by closing down their business for the next 72 hours.
The textile traders have been protesting against the GST Council’s decision to levy five percent tax on the sector. They are also demanding extension period of one year for the industry to prepare for the new tax regime.
Asking the Council to rollback its decision, the traders announced that they would go on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met at the Council meeting this week.
All India Textile Traders’, in its meeting at New Delhi under the aegis of Delhi Hindustani Mercantile Association, had asked the textile traders across the country to close their shops for three days from June 27 in protest against GST.
All the textile shops were closed down on Tuesday in almost all major cities of the State. The merchants were out if streets to register their protest, shouting slogans against the Government.
Federation of Textile Traders’ member Jatinder Pal Singh said their struggle wouold continue till their voice reached the Government. “The Government is doing injustice with us...our business would be ruined,” he added.
“If implemented, all textile traders would be destroyed. If the Government fails to pay any heed to our demands, we will reinforce our struggle,” said the trader. He said they were in a “do or die situation”. If the Government did not accept our demands, our businesses would have an unforeseen loss, he added.
The traders maintained they had “no idea about how to file returns using the GST software, and how can the Government implement GST without any preparedness”.