The textile merchants of the city observed bandh on Thursday in protest against the imposition of Goods & Services Tax on textiles.
Led by the Andhra Pradesh Textile Federation (APTF) and the Krishnaveni Wholesale Cloth Market Merchants Association, textile merchants took out a rally in the city. Textile showrooms at Vastralatha, Krishnaveni Market, Bandar Road, Tarapet, Besant Road and other areas remained closed.
Addressing the rally, APTF treasurer Velampalli Ramachandra said that the one-day bandh was just the beginning of the protests against GST and the campaign would be intensified in future if the Centre did not care to address the issue.
‘Customers will suffer’
He said that in independent India there had been no tax so far and it was cruel to impose the tax in the name of GST now.
Federation member Bachhu Venkata Prasad said that due to GST customers have to pay about 40 to 50 % tax on textiles. Also, merchants would suffer losses, he said.
Association members V. Balaprasad, V. Prasad and P. Bhimarao were among those present. The rally began at Krishnaveni Market and ended at Vastralatha.
