Key Points:
- 26th February is a Bharat Bandh.
- The Bharat Bandh has been announced by The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) against Goods and Services Tax (GST) and hold ‘Chakka Jam’, or road blockade, on the same day.
- It is to review the GST amendments, scrap E-way bill laws, a ban on Amazon’s business in India and ask the government to reduce the ever-increasing fuel prices.
- Dharnas in 1,500 places in the country, all commercials markets will remain closed and almost 40 lakh roads will be shut.
It is a Bharat Bandh on 26th February. Yes! you read it right. A Bharat Bandh again! But this time, the reasons are different. The Bharat Bandh has been announced by The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on February 26 against Goods and Services Tax (GST) and hold ‘Chakka Jam’, or road blockade, on the same day.
“All state level-transport associations have confirmed their support to All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) in this one-day non-operation of transport in protest of the fuel price hike and scrapping of new E-way bill laws introduced by Government of India,” said Mahendra Arya, National President AITWA.
Millions of traders, transporters and tax professionals supported by over 40,000 organisations have united to make tomorrow’s #BharatBandh & #chakkajaam called by @CAITIndia & @aitwa a grand success, to protest against the complexities, anomalies & draconian provisions in #GST pic.twitter.com/jV9D8zSCYp
— Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) (@CAITIndia) February 25, 2021
Why a Bharat Bandh?
– To review the GST system and simplifying tax slabs
– To scrap E-way bill laws
– To demand a ban on Amazon’s business in India
– To ask the government to reduce the ever-increasing fuel prices.
The e-way bill system has been introduced nation-wide for inter-state movement of goods with effect from 1st April 2018. The Indian states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra already have reached the Rs.100/liter mark for petrol and Delhi has crossed its Rs.90/liter record. The CAIT is demanding a new Press Note in place of Press Note No.2 of the FDI policy by removing all escape routes for foreign funded e-commerce companies.
Issue is for all manufacturers, traders & transporters! We are just torch bearers tomorrow!#AbolishEwayBill #26thfebBharatbandh https://t.co/v5LwoTv6VT
— All India Transporters Welfare Association (@aitwa) February 25, 2021
What will happen on 26th February?
– Nationwide Dharnas will take place in about 1,500 places
– Over 40, 000 trade associations, representing eight crore traders of the country, will participate in the Bharat Vyapar Bandh on February 26
– 40 lakh roads will be shut on Friday
– Commercial markets will remain closed as over 40,000 traders’ associations are being a part of the bandh.
– AITWA has all transport companies to park their vehicles from 6am to 8om as a symbolic protest.
All India FMCG Distributors Association, Federation of Aluminium Utensils Manufacturers Association, Northern India Spices Traders Association, All India Cosmetic Manufacturers Association, All India Women Entrepreneurs Association and All India Computer Dealers Association, among others are also participating in the protest.
