On February the 26th, 2021 there will be observance of Bharat Bandh and the development is not only limited to the country’s national capital but spans the entirety of India. Implicit in this Bharat Bandh is the crucial protest on the part of the traders whose lives have been pushed to dire straits as a result of some moves taken by the government that have made conducting regular, everyday business a very difficult process.
So the question is, what are we talking about and what seems to have irked traders across the country?
First of all, it’s important to note that the traders, at a pan-India level have called for protests in lines with the rise of prices in GST, Fuel Prices, as well as the E-way Bill. As a result of this action, the call for Bharat Bandh was made by the Indian traders’ Body- Confederation of All India Traders, also known as CAIT.
This is the reason why all commercial shopping complexes and markets will be closed on the 26th of February, which happens to be a Friday. Explaining their motive behind the Bharat Bandh in a public statement, the noted CAIT shared that over 8 crore traders belonging to more than 40,000 trade associations across India shall observe the ‘Bharat Vyapar Bandh’ to protest against some of the “draconian, arbitrary and critical” amendments made recently in GST rules.
That being said, it’s not that hard to gather a sense of just how troubled the traders all across India are in lines with the recent hikes taken by the government so as to be using phrases like ‘draconian!’ What do you reckon?
But that said, what’s the key inference behind the Bharat Bandh, as enforced by the protesting traders? Well, if you go by their plight, then one would understand that, as a trader one desires a review of the provisions of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
And the fact that the rise of the GST, along with the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel have led to a basic operational turmoil (for traders) can be gathered by the fact this Bharat Bandh is being supported by no fewer than 40,000 traders’ associations.
How is that for a number?
Apart from calling for a review of the GST system, and its tax slabs, the following is what CAIT offered in lines with their protest and the subsequent Bharat Bandh, as told to Zee News:
CAIT Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said it is also talking to the government on this issue, adding that All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) will also support CAIT’s Bharat Bandh call and hold a ‘Chakka Jam’ on February 26.
“All commercial markets across the country will remain closed and protest dharnas will be organised in different cities of all states,” Khandelwal said adding that along with CAIT, over 40,000 traders’ associations across the country will support the Bandh.
While the rise of GST has earned the scorn of the traders all over the country, it is hardly a surprise that the life of the common man has been disrupted by the rise in fuel prices (in diesel and petrol), a situation that’s gone on to recur in the recent months in the nation. One wonders, are we really afar from that day when the general public will gather on the streets to raise a voice of dissent?