Surat: BJP MP from Navsari CR Patil alleged that Monday’s incident of lathicharge at Millennium market in Surat by local police on agitating textile traders was due to some Congress people who had merged into the group of textile traders. He said police should probe into this.

Patil said: When we received complains from the traders themselves that they were forced to shut down the markets over GST we had heard the traders on Sunday at University convention hall. They said they don’t have problem with GST if the procedures are simplified. We there and then decided to make representation before Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over this issue on Tuesday or Wednesday. We were of opinion that those who want to reopen the shops should do that and they should get police protection so that others don’t force them. It’s unfortunate that police had to do lathicharge but most of the traders were ready to reopen the shops. By afternoon, 70% shops had reopened but suddenly one group arrived there and disturbed the atmosphere. Police need to probe who were in that mob. Congress workers merged with the traders and sparked off the violence. There are Congress leaders behind this incident. Congress leaders Aslam cyclewala, Ashok Jirawala, Balwant Jain and Champalal Bothra were active during the bandh day. What they were doing there? Even today I believe that there are many traders who want to reopen the market. Thousands of labouers who work on daily wage basis are in trouble. One should worry about them. None should be pressurized to observe strike. This was the only purpose. We hadn’t visited the market area because we didn’t want to create influence. We are going to meet union finance minister Arun Jaitley to make an effort for simplification of GST procedures and sufficient input credit. We will try to find solution. The traders who send their goods outside the city have also raised some questions which we will put before the Finance minister.

Meanwhile the commissioner of police Satish Sharma told media persons that the agitation of traders waw peaceful till Monday afternoon. However then after some traders and some laborers had started blocking road outside the textile market and also pelted stones over police men who were deployed there for bandobast. Two constables Mukesh Parbat and Dilip Kanti Parmar had suffered head injuries following stone pelting. Some private persons were also injured If police had not applied light force to disperse the crowd, the situation could go worse. Police had not arrested even a single person and shown restraint. Police had just detained one person who was also released later. No person has suffered minor or major injury during lathicharge which went on only for few moments in order to control the situation.

Sharma said a complaint has been filed against the mob in this incident. Arrests will take place based on the CCTV footage and other prima facie substance. He said the traders should do their agitation peacefully and hold programmes after taking permission from police. Those who want to continue to do business must not be pressurized to shut their shops.

DeshGujarat

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