Business Desk, ETV Bharat: Going by the news emerging from different parts of the country, it seems that India may witness a series of strikes and bandhs by traders, employees and workers in the coming weeks.
While the major triggers for forthcoming strikes lie in the policy announcements made in the latest Union Budget, burning issues like rising diesel prices are also a cause of concern for businesses.
Not to mention, these strikes follow the just concluded nationwide strike by real estate developers and contractors protesting against the ‘exorbitant hike’ in prices of steel and cement.
The realtors allege that the hike in prices will affect customers. They also demanded for government’s intervention to resolve the issues faced by the real estate sector.
Here is a quick look at the upcoming strikes and bandhs
Traders call for a nation-wide bandh on 26 February
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) called for ‘Bharat Vyapar Bandh’ on 26 February against some of the provisions of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
“GST was declared a simplified tax system, but even after four years, it has become the most complex tax system in which the entire burden of tax compliance has been passed on to the traders,” says CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal in a statement shared with ETV Bharat.
The CAIT allege that traders are facing difficulties in obtaining input credit and GST authorities are given arbitrary powers using which GST registration can be cancelled without giving any opportunity of hearing.
“The CAIT demands the Union Finance Minister and GST Council to re-review the GST tax system in a comprehensive manner and simplify the tax system so that traders are not disturbed and the tax scope of GST and revenue to both Central and State Government increases manifold,” reads the statement.
The traders body also claimed that the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA) has extended its support to the bandh and the AITWA will hold a Chakka Jam on 26th February to support the bandh.
Banks unions strike on March 15 and 16
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, gave a call for a two-day strike from March 15 to protest against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders.
In the Union Budget presented last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the privatisation of two Public Sector Banks (PSBs) as part of its disinvestment plan.
Besides privatisation of banks, issues like bad bank, disinvestment in LIC, privatisation of one general insurance company, allowing FDI in insurance sector up to 74 per cent are some of the issues the bank unions want to highlight during the strike.
Transporters' to protest against high diesel prices
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which claims to represent about 95 lakh truckers and about 50 lakh bus and tourist operators, said that it would suspend transport operations if the government fails to address issues such as rising diesel prices and the alleged excessive taxation.
"Rising diesel prices, excessive taxation, issues related to e-way bill... present state of scrapping policy...rationalisation of presumptive tax were the key issues discussed and deliberated upon" by the governing council of AIMTC, the transporters' umbrella body said in a statement on Sunday.
The AIMTC said that it will issue a 14-day notice to the government for starting the process towards resolution of the demands.
The demands include immediate reduction of diesel prices and uniformity in it, resolution of issues related to e-way bill and GST, and discussion on scrapping policy with the transport fraternity before its roll-out.
"It is decided that if the government fails to address and /or start the process to resolve the above demands of the industry in a positive way, then another governing council meeting will be convened," the statement added.
Power sector employees threaten strike against Electricity Bill
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has demanded that the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 must be put out in the public domain before starting the discussion on it in Parliament.
AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey in a statement said that the Bill is not available on the Power Ministry website.
He said the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 is included in the list of 20 new Bills to be placed in the current Budget session of Parliament.
AIPEF has threatened a lightning strike against any unilateral move to rush through the Bill in Parliament.
AIPEF national executive meeting has been called on February 27 at Mumbai which will decide the future agitational course of action.
“All power engineers across the country will go for nationwide struggle along with 15 lakh power employees against Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021,” Dubey added.
(With inputs from agencies)
