Protests by traders in the state has refused to die down with retail shopkeepers and textile merchants considering for beefing up their agitation.
Wholesale shops of clothes remained closed for the second consecutive day, though retailers opened after shops. Strike was called against the lathicharge on textile traders in Surat and imposition of 5 per cent GST on textile sector.
A meeting was called to decide on further course of action. Wholesale dealers are likely to open their shops tomorrow but if there is unanimous demand for close down, everyone will join says Suresh Saini, office bearer of Rajasthan Cloth Traders Association (RCTA). Earlier, RCTA went on a four day strike from June 27 to June 30.
At the time of the meeting some traders claim for pan India strike to make their efforts count. They felt that any action in isolation will not put any pressure on the government.
There has to be consolidated efforts. There has been consensus over taking associations of other state in confidence and give call for all India movement, added Saini.
On the front of food items too voices of agitation are simmering. After Gujrat, grain markets in Rajasthan may face yet another round of closure against abolishing role of commission agents with roll out of Goods and Service Tax (GST).
On the other hand Babulal Gupta, chairman, Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vayapar Sangh says that the mandis are open but hardly work is happening there. Without commission agents, no work can take place and mandis will not function. With Gujrat going on strike we too will sit and decide on it next week.
Small traders also alleged that there is still incomplete information on GST and they feel helpless in front of new tax regime. Traders from both urban areas and rural areas were not given any training on new taxation law. If we are unaware about the law, how they are expected to follow, says Vishnu Agarwal, wholesaler and member of RKPVS.
