Cloth merchants hold protest in Pb, Hry

On a call given for a three-day nationwide strike by all India Textile Association, dealers at some places in Punjab and Haryana today held protests demanding 'zero' Goods and Services Tax (GST) on clothes.
In Ludhiana, the textile garments hub, a procession was taken out by the protesters in support of their demands.
The protest march started from Ghumar Mandi here and passed through the fountain chowk and mall road in civil lines.
"Once the GST regime kicks in, a tax of 5 per cent will be levied on yarn and fabric. Additionally, a 5 per cent GST will have to be paid by workers doing works like embroidery, etc.," one of the protesters claimed.

Protests were also held at some other places in the state.
In Haryana, cloth merchants at Rohtak took out a procession seeking total exemption on yarn and fabric from the GST.