Traders’ Bharat Bandh: Commercial Markets In India To Be Closed On Feb 26

New Delhi: All commercial markets in India will remain closed on February 26 following a call for Bharat Bandh by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), demanding a review of the goods and services tax (GST) regime.

The traders’ body said on Thursday that dharnas will be staged at 1,500 locations across the country to urge the Centre, state governments and GST Council to keep in abeyance the ‘draconian’ GST provisions.

CAIT is also seeking a review of GST system and its tax slabs to enable easier compliance by traders.

The All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) will support CAIT’s Bharat Bandh and stage a ‘Chakka Jam’ the same day.

“All commercial markets across the country will remain closed and protest dharnas will be organized in different cities of all states,” CAIT secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal said, adding that 40,000 traders’ associations will join the bandh.

Pointing out that about 950 amendments have already been made to GST rules in four years, Khandelwal felt that voluntary compliance is crucial to a successful GST regime.