Textile traders in the State will down shutters in protest against Goods and Services Tax (GST) for three days from June 27.
The traders have geared up for the bandh in response to a pan India bandh call given by the Textile GST Sangharshan Samithi. They are demanding the exemption of textiles/fabrics from the framework of GST, failing which they will go on an indefinite strike, the date of which will be decided later.
The traders will also observe June 30 as black day to protest against the government’s move to levy GST on fabrics. To observe the black day, we will wear black bands and wave black flags in front of the shops. The Central government has decided to roll out the GST from June 30 midnight.
Traders are wary that the GST regime would push them into the cumbersome process of frequent filing of returns. They also claim that they cannot employ clerks to maintain computerized accounts.
“Bolt from the blue”
Levying a tax on textiles was unprecedented in the country’s history. It would lead to anarchy in business as small players were not equipped to comply with complex regulations of the GST.
“The demonetization has already shown worst impact on the textile business. The GST would be another bolt from the blue,” says Andhra Pradesh Textile Federation (APTF) president Busireddy Malleswara Reddy.
Federation treasurer Velampalli Ramachandra Rao says the GST would adversely affect the retailers who are small-time vendors. More than 80% of the people buy their clothes from local merchants.
Taxing these small-time merchants will put them on the receiving end as they do not have proper computer knowledge to upload bills and maintain accounts, he says.
