Agitating Surat traders lathi-charged
The Gujarat police lathi-charged hundreds of textile traders protesting against the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Surat on Monday.
Several traders suffered injuries. The police claimed that the traders started pelting them with stones, forcing them to use force.
Thousands of traders in Surat’s Millennium Market had gathered to protest the rollout of GST, which they fear will lead to the return of inspector raj and harassment of small traders engaged in textile and apparel business.
“Our indefinite strike has been on for a week, but today the police used force as BJP MP C.R. Patil wanted to break the strike,” a trader said. “We will not accept GST on fabric. More than 50000 traders in Surat are united on this,” he said.
There are 175 retail and wholesale textile and apparel markets in Surat, where more than 60000 traders record a daily turnover of ₹300 crore. “GST will ruin our trade and small traders will have to shut their shops,” said Sanjay Jagnani, a textile trader and office bearer of Surat Textile Traders Association.
On Sunday, Mr. Patil had a meeting with some traders to resolve the issue and end the strike. However, the majority of the traders remained firm that the strike would continue till fabric was exempted from GST.
“On Monday, a few traders tried to open their shops after a meeting with Mr. Patil, who tried to create divisions among us,” said a trader. He alleged that the government machinery was being used to break the agitation.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel slammed the police. “Shocking that police has used brutal force against Surat traders protesting against GST. Government must reason with them, not suppress them,” he tweeted.
Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel also condemned the police action.
