Traders threaten statewide bandh

Tribune News Service

Hisar, June 25

The Haryana Baopar Mandal has threatened to launch a statewide bandh in protest against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mandal president Bajrang Dass Garg said a state-level meeting of traders held in Bhiwani today decided to serve an ultimatum on the state government on the issue. “If the government fails to pay heed to our demands, traders will launch an agitation soon. the government should reduce GST rates and simplify procedure,” he added.

He said the GST has several anti-trader provisions, which should be removed before it was introduced in the state. “The government plans to introduce the GST to remove multiple slabs of taxes, but traders still have to pay the market fee,” he added.

“The GST rates are too high. Some commodities such as clothes, sugar, sarees, dhoop and agarbatti, which were earlier exempted from tax but have been included now. The process of filing returns under the GST is cumbersome and it should be simplified,” alleged Garg.

Sushil Mittal, president of the Haryana Cotton Industries Association; Hanuman Kedia, president of the Haryana Guar Gum Association; Jai Prakash Gupta, president of the Haryana Halwai Union; Ashok Bhambri, president of the Haryana Hotels and Dhaba Association; and Satish Chhikara, president of the Haryana Timber Merchants Association attended the convention.