CAIT’s ‘Bharat Vyapar Bandh’ gets lukewarm response in Surat

Market and commercial complexes open; transport association joined the protest

SURAT

Ajeet Tiwari

The day-long ‘Bharat Vyapar Bandh’ called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) evoked a lukewarm response with most shops and commercial establishments open through the day in Surat.

The textile and diamond market were fully operational including FOSTTA, however transports were affected as they had joined the bandh. CAIT had called a nationwide strike to protest against rising fuel prices, the E-Way Bill, and the complex structure of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

According to local traders, businesses had already incurred losses due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown and they didn’t want to down their shutters. “We are completely in support of the cause. However, it is not feasible to enforce the ‘Bandh’ in the market this time. The traders are already reeling under the losses they incurred during the lockdown,” said a local trader.

However, CAIT in a statement said the shutdown was a ‘grand success’ as more than 8 crore small businesses belonging to about 40,000 trade associations across the country kept their shutters down and no trading activity took place in any commercial market.

Meanwhile, the All India Transporters Welfare Association said that they are supporting the bandh as the association has been constantly requesting the government to take appropriate steps to handle rising fuel prices.