The Hindu : New Delhi News : All major markets down shutters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

All major markets down shutters

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 30. All major markets across the Capital remained closed on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day bandh call issued by the Confederation of All-India Traders (CAIT) and the Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal in protest against introduction of the new Value Added Tax (VAT) regime from April 1. Similarly, a majority of the petrol pumps across the city did not operate to oppose a steep increase in sales tax on diesel announced by the Delhi Government.

All major wholesale markets in Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Darya Ganj, Khari Baoli, Ajmeri Gate, Nai Sarak and Lajpat Rai Market remained closed while traders in East Delhi including Laxmi Nagar, Shahdara and Gandhi Nagar also supported the bandh. However, in other markets like Lajpat Nagar, Tilak Nagar, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Yusuf Sarai, Munirka and Janakpuri, the bandh was partial.

The Delhi Transporters' Association and the All India Transporters' Welfare Association have also supported the traders' strike and demanded immediate withdrawal of VAT. In the Capital, traders also took out protest rallies in Karol Bagh and Chandni Chowk shouting slogans against the Central and State governments for implementing VAT. They also pledged to support the bandh for two more days and intensify their protests throughout the Capital.

Traders under the banner of CAIT, a group of over 5,000 trade federations and chambers, took out a silent protest march at Karol Bagh. Addressing the protestors, its chairman, Vijay Goel, said the response from the trading community to today's bandh was tremendous and the protest would continue till the VAT regime was abolished.

"Protests in the form of sit-ins, demonstrations and rallies will continue for the next two days. We will intensify our stir if the Government fails to accede to our demands," said the CAIT general secretary, Praveen Khandelwal.

Meanwhile, almost all the petrol pumps, barring those owned by petroleum companies, also remained closed in the Capital today in protest against the increase in sales tax on diesel from 12 to 20 per cent by the Delhi Government. The privately owned pumps have decided to continue their protest and open their pumps only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. till the hike in sales tax was withdrawn.

According to the head of the Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association, Atul Peshawaria, only 22 company-owned petrol pumps in the Capital remained open while around 350 pumps of private owners did not do any business. "We are ready to bear our daily losses due to non-sale of fuel, but will continue to protest against the hike in sales tax as we will lose our business to neighbouring States due to high taxes in the Capital," he added.

Similarly, two main transporters' groups -- The Delhi Transporters' Association and the All India Transporters' Welfare Association -- have opposed the hike in sales tax stating that this would result in a major financial setback to their business.

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