Bharat Bandh on 26 February
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) announced Bharat Bandh on 26 February 2021, Friday against the peeking fuel prices, the new e-way bill and Goods and Services Tax (GST). Joining hands with the CAIT, 40,000 trade associations have extended their support to the nationwide shutdown, demonstrating the outrage and miseries fluttering all over the country. The Bharat Bandh will be accompanied by a Chakka Jam (road blockade) as declared by All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA), an umbrella body of all organised road transportation companies.
The traders seek a review of GST as they find it 'complicated', 'regressive' and 'unjustified'. The AITWA has raised its demands for cutting down the fuel prices and replacement of e-way bills with e-invoice. The national president of AITWA, Mahendra Arya requested the transport companies to halt their services and park the vehicles on Friday as a symbol of protest. "Transport godowns will exhibit protest banners. Customers will be approached by transport companies to not book or load goods on friday," he added. Truckers of Maharashtra and Haryana have so far affirmed their support.
Suresh Khosla, secretary of Bombay Goods Transport Association (BGTA) said, "BGTA has been forwarding various concerns to the government on issues of Transport Industry like incomprehensible E-way bill under GST and inconsiderate and unregulated rise in petrol prices. Our officials are in talks with the government but haven't got any solution to the problem." Several profound and prominent organisations are extending their wholehearted contribution to protests like Northern India Spices Traders Association, All India Cosmetic Manufacturers Association, All India Women Entrepreneurs Association, All India Computer Dealers Associations, All India FMCG Distributors Association and Federation of Aluminium Utensils Manufacturers Association.
The various aspects of 26 February Bandh are:-
---The AITWA asked transport companies to park their vehicles from 6am to 8pm to show adherence to the protest.
---Commercial Markets will remain closed nationwide.
---Booking and transportation of bill oriented goods will be hampered.
---Dharnas and peaceful demonstrations will take place in about 1,500 towns of the country.
---Associations of chartered accountants and tax advocates have backed the strike.
---The CAIT iterated that protests will see the presence of women entrepreneurs, small industries, hawkers etc.
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