The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a Bharat Bandh on Friday 26 Feb protesting against the rising fuel prices, Goods and Services Tax, E-Bill, etc. Following the CAIT’s call for Bharat bandh, more than 40,000 trade associations (AITWA) have decided to extend their support.

Millions of traders, transporters and tax professionals supported by over 40,000 organisations have united to make tomorrow’s #BharatBandh & #chakkajaam called by @CAITIndia & @aitwa a grand success, to protest against the complexities, anomalies & draconian provisions in #GST pic.twitter.com/jV9D8zSCYp

— Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) (@CAITIndia) February 25, 2021

AITWA and CAIT both seek to eliminate the new e-way bill or at least withdraw some rules from it. The new e-way bill system has been introduced for inter-state movement of goods with effect from 1st April 2018. The recent amendment in the Goods and Services laws has shortened the validity of the E-way bill by increasing the distance from 100 km to 200 km per day.

“All state level-transport associations have confirmed their support to AITWA in this one-day non-operation of transport in protest of the fuel price hike and scrapping of new E-way bill laws introduced by Government of India. The nature of the movement is to reject booking and movement of all E-Way Bill-oriented goods for one day. All transport companies are asked to park their vehicles between 6 am to 8 pm as a symbolic protest. All transport godowns will display the protest banners. All customers will be approached by transport companies not to book or load any goods on February 26, 2021,” said AITWA national president Mahendra Arya.

The CAIT even mentioned that GST Council never responded to the repeated statements,

“We highly regret such a dismal attitude and picture of the GST which has compelled the trade union leaders attending the conference to call for a Bharat Trade Bandh,” read the statement.

Here is all you need to know about the bandh on 26 Feb:

1. Commercial markets across the country will be shut down as over 40,000 traders’ associations have extended their support for the bandh.
2. Private transport is also likely to be hit as the AITWA have asked the transport companies to park their vehicles between 6 am and 8 pm as a symbolic protest.
3. Bill-oriented goods and booking will be closed too.
4. At over 15,000 places Dharnas will be held.
5. 40 lakh roads will be off the road.
6. According to reports, AIMTC and BAITOWA (Bhaichara All India Truck Operator Welfare Association) will not be taking part in the bandh.