Bhubaneswar: Barring few establishments, commercial markets across Odisha have more or less remain closed today in view of the Bharat Bandh called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in protest against the new e-way bill and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). However road transport services across the State remained normal.
In response to the CAIT’s call for Bharat bandh, around 40,000 trade associations have decided to extend their support. They are demanding a review of the provisions of the goods and services tax (GST) regime.
"Only Commercial markets across the State will be shut down. However communication and transport services will also remain operative. All the banks and offices will also be functional. We have no plans of picketing. We will try to draw the attention of the government and express our resentment by closing our own shops for 12 hours from 6 AM to 6 PM," stated Sudhakar Panda, Secretary of Odisha Traders' Association.
In Pictures: Bharat Bandh Across Odisha
According to reports, security in the State capital has been tightened during the Bandh.
"We will ensure that essential services and people going for emergency work will not be disrupted during the period. We have also deployed forces at important places to prevent any untoward incidents," stated Umashankar Das, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar.
Traders' bodies in Cuttack have also extended their support to the Bharat Bandh called by CAIT.
The decision was taken in a meeting at the Malgodown Traders Association office earlier on Thursday.
The traders' body in the Millennium City are observing the Bandh in protest of Goods and Services Tax (GST), arbitrariness of e-commerce and FSSAI rules.
The traders' body stated that the rules on input tax credit are a punishment for the traders. Given the complexity of GST, it has become very difficult to continue business, read a statement issued by the Association.
(Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)