Bharat Bandh: Friday’s national shutdown over fuel price hike, GST and E-Way Bill | Everything you need to know

On Friday, the Traders’ Body of the All India Traders’ Confederation (CAIT) called for a Bharat Bandh with fuel rates reaching a new high in India and decided to hold a ‘chakka jam’ in several parts of the country.

The CAIT also wants the central government to review the provisions of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, in addition to increasing fuel rates, and to scrap the E-way bill laws.

“In a statement, CAIT said, “We strongly regret such a dismal attitude and image of the GST that forced the trade union leaders attending the conference to call for a Bharat Trade Bandh.

On Friday, the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA) and almost 40,000 trade associations supported the CAIT call for Bharat Bandh, saying that transporters “should not be subject to different penalties issued by the government for any transit compliance target based on time.”

What are the protestors’ demands?

The protesters want the GST regime to be reviewed by the Centre and the tax slabs in India simplified. The GST was called one of the “most complicated taxation systems” by the CAIT, resulting in “misery for traders.”

The protesters also want the E-way bill laws to be scrapped by the Centre, a permit that transporters need to carry from one place to another while transporting goods.

“AITWA demands that the E-way bill be abolished because the newly introduced E-invoice is good enough to avoid tax evasion. Vehicles may be tracked by the government using FASTag connectivity with E-invoice, “AITWA national president Mahendra Arya declared, as The Times of India reported.

‘Diesel prices should be reduced and mechanisms have to be discussed and developed with the transport industry for future regulation. Diesel rates should be balanced across the nation’s length and breadth, “He just added.