Small traders may opt for nation-wide protest

Small traders, often seen as a core support base of BJP, are up in arms against the continued difficulties faced by them on GST and are now threatening to launch a nationwide agitation against what was pegged by the government as the biggest tax reform in the country since 1947.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has convened a two-day meeting of trade leaders from all over the country on September 18 and 19 at Surat which is expected to be attended by over 100 prominent trade leaders across the country. The meet will take stock of the current situation and discuss impact of GST on businesses of the traders.

“While chalking out future course of action, the possibility of a national agitation on GST can not be ruled out as it is one of the core agenda of the meeting,” threatened CAIT.

A leader of the association told this newspaper that they are facing huge pressure from traders across the country on GST and are “serious” about launching a nation-wide agitation.

CAIT is the apex body of trading community and claims backing of over 40 thousand trade associations representing over 6 crore small businesses.

What has angered small traders is that “there is no direct dialogue and lack of coordination with them by the Central government, State governments or even by GST Council.”

This they said has further aggravated the situation. CAIT said traders feel grossly neglected in the whole process of GST implementation in the country.

“The failure of GST portal, absence of adequate knowledge about compliance procedures, continued confusion on levy of tax rates on different items and inclusion of mass usage items under 28 per cent tax slab has generated gross dissatisfaction among trading community on the issue of GST and has resulted into great disillusionment for the traders across country,” it said.