Ahmedabad/Surat/Rajkot: Textile and food-grain markets along with dry fruit merchants’ establishments and shops remained closed across Gujarat today to protest against various provisions of Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was going to be implemented from July 1

Around 175 markets in textile capital Surat remained completely shut and over 75000 traders associated with the textile Industry remained on strike of sorts the whole day.
The convenor of Surat Textile Sangarsh Samiti, Tarachand Kasat said that he was not against GST as such.

‘There should clarity on tax imposition. The process should be made simple and the provision to file 3 returns a month should be done away with. The online tax return filing for traders of the industry in which literacy was low was a big hassle,’ he said.

Textile merchants in Rajkot, Ahmedabad and other parts of the state also observed bandh today. In Gondal town a motorcycle rally of the textile and other merchants was also taken out.
On the other hand, food-grain markets in Kalupur in Ahmedabad and other places remained closed to protest GST of 5 % on branded items and some other issues.

Meanwhile, the Dry Fruits and the Kirana Associations of Gujarat today observed a total Bandh to protest against the said high rate of 12% GST for dry fruits.

Addressing a joint press conference here today Hiteshbhai Pariyani, and Shri Lalitbhai Shah, Chairman of Dry Fruits Association & Vice Chairman of Kirana Associations respectively today said, “We welcome and are willing to support this revolutionary step of implementing GST by the Government. However, the higher GST rates on Dry Fruits and Kirana are not feasible. After several attempts to reach the authorities, we feel our voice hasn’t been heard. Therefore, through this Bandh, we want to draw the attention of the concerned authorities how the livelihood of many would be affected by this unfairly high rate. As against existing tax rate of 5% VAT, the new rate under GST has been kept at 12% for dry fruits. We want the government to review the proposed GST rate and make it NIL or bring it down to 5% at least.”

India’s nuts and dry fruits industry has also requested the government for exempting Dry Fruits under the proposed goods and services tax like they have done for fresh fruits citing similarities in their health benefits, also keeping in mind they are being recommended by doctors & health advisors. Previously, all dry fruits were under one taxation scheme, now cashew nuts and raisins have been reduced back to 5%. The industry wants all Dry Fruits to be considered one again and be put under 5% GST. Industry has expressed fear that with 12% GST on the remaining dry fruits, it will lead to a price increase and negatively impact the consumer.

The bandh called by the Junagadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry on various issues pertaining to GST evoked mixed response.

DeshGujarat