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Textile traders launch three-day bandh as GST rollout nears
Textile and clothes traders across the erstwhile Warangal district have on Tuesday launched a 72-hour bandh in response to the call given by Telangana State Federation of Textiles Association (TSFTA).
They are protesting against the GST Council’s decision to levy 5 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the sector
Warangal Urban: Textile and clothes traders across the erstwhile Warangal district have on Tuesday launched a 72-hour bandh in response to the call given by Telangana State Federation of Textiles Association (TSFTA).
The association’s call was given as part of the nation-wide protest against the GST council’s decision to levy five per cent goods and services tax (GST) on the sector. All Shop Workers Union affiliated to CITU and Congress leaders extended solidarity to the bandh.
All the shops in Battala Bazaar area and other parts in Warangal city were closed down. The members of Warangal Clothes Stores Association and All Shop Workers Union have taken out separate protest rallies in the city.
Speaking to presspersons, the association presdent Gunda Namashivaya, its secretary Thota Mahesh and executive member M Krishnamurthy expressed serious concern over the union government’s decision to impose GST on textiles.
They demanded immediate rolling back of the tax as it could cripple small businesses which could trigger massive unemployment. The prices of textiles would go up to 10 per cent as the GST would have a cascading effect, they explained.
The small traders were under distress in view of the competition from local and international players. In addition to that those working in the sector were unorganised and unskilled. They might comply with GST rules as they lack knowledge of computers and online transactions, they worried.
City Congress working president Rajanala Srihari stated that since the Indian independence in 1947, the sector has been exempted from the tax and was free of sales and value-added taxes. With the NDA government decision there would be compounded effect on the prices as the product moves up the chain to reach the consumer.
The Congress would take up serious agitations in support of the demand. If the fails to withdraw its decision to being textile sector under GST on this sector, the NDA government would face the brunt in the 2019 elections, he warned.
The CITU general secretary V Sarangapani alleged that the centre has acted under pressure from 10 major textiles industries. The decision would have an impact on the workers, besides small scale clothes traders hence the GST on textiles should be withdrawn, he demanded.
