Textile traders in the town observed a bandh in protest against imposition of 4 per cent value added tax (VAT) on textiles in the State.
The traders, led by Ongole Cloth Merchants Association president R. Venkateswarulu, began a week-long relay fast opposing VAT on wholesale and retail textiles as also ready-made garments.
Textile shops at the Bapuji market complex, trunk road and other places remained shut following the protest.
The cloth merchants wanted the Kiran Kumar Reddy Government to withdraw the VAT taking a cue from neighbouring states.
“No tax has been imposed since 1950 on textiles in the State but for a brief period during the then NTR regime. The Government's decision to impose VAT on all types of clothes including those used by poor people would be burden to not only traders but also consumers,” he said.
“We will have no option but to intensify our stir if there is no positive response from the state government,” he added.
