Most shops, hotels and other business establishments in the city remained closed on Tuesday after a call from a group of trade organisations, including a faction of the Kerala Vypari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, for a day-long strike protesting against the issues that have developed out of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1.
President of Kerala Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce V.A. Yusuf said the protest was a grand success with many traders and businesses participating in it. He said the traders were asking for clarifications on certain issues and that they were not against the implementation of the new tax regime.
The Chamber alleged that the declaration by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac that the prices of 101 items must come down following the implementation of GST had put the merchants and traders in a bad light before their customers. The Chamber also said that the Minister was aware of the problems associated with the implementation of the new tax regime and called for talks for clarification on the issues at stake.
Petrol dealers’ strike
A 24-hour strike called by a coordination committee of fuel dealers in the State saw motor fuel outlets remaining closed on Tuesday. The strike was called in protest against the problems that had arisen after the implementation of a programme to revise the price of motor fuels on a daily basis.
The fuel retailers have not been taking stocks for four days now and it is unsure whether even after the strike ends on the midnight of Tuesday there will be sufficient stock in the outlets. Convenor of the fuel dealers’ coordination committee R. Sabarinath said the new system was introduced without any arrangements.
Container strike
Meanwhile, the strike by container trailer owners continued for the third day on Tuesday. The Trade Union Coordination Committee, protesting against the ban on parking of container lorries along the Container Road, has registered its protest against the lack of government action to end the strike. Convenor of the Coordination Committee Charles George said a letter had been sent to the Chief Minister to express their disappointment over the delay in government intervention.
