Bharat Bandh 2021: All commercial markets across the country will remain closed today. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a Bharat Bandh on 26 February. All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) also supports this Bandh. Over 8 crore traders from across the country will join the Bharat Bandh today. Along with this, the organization of transporters has also announced ‘Chakka Jam’ on this day. During this period, there will be traffic jam from 6 am to 8 pm across the country. This can cause problems to people.
What is reason behind Bharat Bandh?
Protest against arbitrary regulations and changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), some of the “draconian, arbitrary and critical” amendments made recently in GST rules.
It will also urge the government to rectify glitches in e-commerce for preventing violation of law by foreign e-commerce companies. Also protesting against the constant rise in fuel prices.
For which demand is India closed?
Bharat Bandh Demands
- CAIT has called for a review of the GST system and tax slabs under it to ensure easier compliance for traders.
- Transporters are demanding a rollback of the e-way bill laws. An e-way bill refers to the permit transporters have to carry while moving goods from one place to another. The recent amendment to the GST laws has narrowed the validity of the e-way bill by increasing the distance from 100km per day to 200km per day.
- Under Section 129 of the CGST Act, 2017, transporters will have to pay penalties amounting to 200 per cent of the tax value or 100 per cent of the invoice value for a truck carrying a consignment with an expired or faulty e-way bill.
- Transporters are also protesting against the constant rise in fuel prices.
Chakka jam, transport remain closed between 6 am to 8 pm today
All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) also joined to the strike. They have extended support to Bharat Bandh call by CAIT in opposition to the new e-way bill laws introduced by the Government of India. All state level-transport associations including Bombay Goods Transport Association, SIMTA, KGTA, Baroda Goods Transport Association, Vapi Transport Association, HGTA, CGTA, Car Carrier Association, Association of Transporters Poona, and many others have confirmed their support to AITWA in this one-day strike. Transport organizations have announced the closure of the offices in the meantime. Booking, delivery, loading / unloading of any kind of goods will remain closed. All transport companies have been asked to park their vehicles between 06:00 am and 08:00 pm on Friday.
Strike at 1500 locations across the country today. CAIT General Secretary Pravin Khandelwal said that on 26 February, there will be a sit-in at 1500 places across the country, demanding the Central Government, state governments and the GST Council to abolish the stringent provisions of Goods and Services Tax (GST). All markets across the country will remain closed and protests will be organized in different cities of all states.
Strike by merchant organizations across the country
Apart from the transport sector across the country, a large number of national trade organizations have also supported the bandh, notably All India FMCNzi Distributors Association, Federation of Aluminum Utensils Manufactures and Traders Association, North India Spices Traders Association , All India Women’s Entrepreneurs Association, All India Computer Dealer Association, All India Cosmetic Manufacturers Association etc.
