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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  GST rates: Cloth shops, dry fruit sellers in Gujarat observe bandh in protest
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GST rates: Cloth shops, dry fruit sellers in Gujarat observe bandh in protest

Cloth markets and dry fruits sellers in Gujarat observe a bandh against the proposed higher rates under the goods and services (GST ) regime

Dry fruit and grocery shop associations in Gujarat have been demanding that the GST on dry fruits should be brought down to the existing rate of 5%. Photo: MintPremium
Dry fruit and grocery shop associations in Gujarat have been demanding that the GST on dry fruits should be brought down to the existing rate of 5%. Photo: Mint

Ahmedabad: Calling for total exemption on yarn and fabric from Goods and Services Tax (GST), cloth markets in Gujarat on Thursday observed bandh against the centre’s proposed 5% levy on these two items under the new tax regime. Also, dry fruits shops in the state observed a total bandh to protest 12% GST on dry fruits.

According to Gaurang Bhagat, president of Maskati Cloth Mahajan, a body comprising wholesale and semi-wholesale cloth traders in Ahmedabad, nearly 50,000 cloth shop including wholesalers and semi-wholesalers kept their shutters down in the city alone during the day. Cloth markets across cities and towns in the state including those in Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Junagadh remained closed, demanding roll-back of GST imposed on yarn and fabric, he said.

“The 5% GST imposed on yarn and fabric will create a lot of trouble to those in the business of selling cloth, and the process of GST is lengthy. We have been traditionally exempted from any kind of sales tax and VAT (value-added tax) since 1957, and this new GST levy is uncalled for," Bhagat said.

“Government should put GST on cotton and raw material rather than processed cloth under this regime. We have asked our members not to register for GST till 18 June when the matter is reviewed by the government and the picture gets clearer, after which we will chalk out our further strategy," Bhagat said, adding that there are around 2 lakh such shops which deal in processed cloth in the state. The bandh call is also to extend support to similar calls made by other bodies. Bhagat said they will make a representation on their demands before the government representatives.

Dry fruits and kirana (grocery shops) associations demanded that the GST on dry fruits should be brought down to the existing rate of 5%.

“Higher GST rates on dry fruits are not feasible. Though we tried to reach out to the authorities to make a representation, we feel that our voice has not been heard. Thus, through this bandh, we want to draw the attention of the authorities," said the joint statement.

“As against tax rate of 5% VAT, the new rate under GST has been kept at 12% for dry fruits. We want the government to review the proposed rate and make it nil or at least bring it down to 5%," it said.

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Published: 15 Jun 2017, 07:30 PM IST
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