The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mixed response to bandh on Day-Two

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mixed response to bandh on Day-Two

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31. The second day of three-day nationwide bandh against Value Added Tax evoked a mixed response in the Capital today with all wholesale markets remaining closed while a majority retail and neighbourhood markets failed to respond positively to the bandh call. Traders took out protest marches in different parts of the Capital while the readymade cloth merchants of Karol Bagh blocked the busy Pusa Road in the afternoon.

All the major wholesale markets in Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Darya Ganj, Khari Baoli, Ajmeri Gate, Sadar Bazar, Gandhi Nagar, Nai Sarak and Lajpat Rai Market remained closed while retail markets like Connaught Place Lajpat Nagar, Tilak Nagar, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Khan Market, Laxmi Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Yusuf Sarai, Munirka and Janakpuri mainly remained open.

Traders in different parts of the Capital took out protest marches and staged demonstrations during the day. Traders from all Old Delhi markets demonstrated near Red Fort and took out procession condemning the Central and State Government for implementing anti-trade VAT regime.

Similarly, sit-ins and protests were held at South Extension, Gandhi Nagar under the banner of the Confederation of All India Traders while traders of Sadar Bazar gathered under the banner of the Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh and took out protest rally in the area. Similarly, the Forum of Delhi Trade Association members also sat on dharna. Among the political parties, the Delhi unit of Shiv Sena held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding immediate withdrawal of VAT.

Meanwhile, the CAIT has said that it was ready for talks with the Government if the launch of VAT was deferred and the Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, was present in the negotiations so that he could "address the core issues". According to the CAIT chairman, Vijay Goel, the Government wanted to introduce VAT from April 1 when there were "no VAT Act and rules" and this would pose great difficulty to traders and their business would be badly affected. He also demanded the constitution of a high-level committee of State Finance Ministers and representatives of trade organisations to resolve the controversial issues under the new tax system.

Meanwhile, the petrol pump dealers opened that outlets today but announced that from April 1 onwards, the pumps would operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. only and on April 4, petrol pumps will remain shut throughout the day to protest increase in sales tax on sale of diesel. They alleged that the Delhi Government had ignored several issues including environment pollution and adulteration before increasing sales tax that would cause major financial losses to all petrol pump dealers in the Capital.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi