Textile traders strike extends till June 30

The three-day strike of textile traders in West Bengal was today extended by one day till June 30 against imposition of GST from July one after the all India traders body has called strike on that day.
"Our textile strike was supposed to be till June 29, but after the Bhartiya Udyog Vypar Mandal supported our cause and has called a nationwide trade bandh on June 30. Thus, we'll continue our strike till June 30," the Chamber of Textile Trade & Industry (COTTI) President Arun Bhuwalka told PTI.
Some five lakh textile and garment shops across the state are closed, he said.

"It is a fight for our survival. On June 30, we'll decide our next course of action after meeting with the government," COTTI Vice-president Brij Mohan Mohta said.
"The rationality of imposition of GST on textile is not justified till the preparedness at the grassroot level is complete," he said.
Lack of clarity on GST on textile has made things complicated for the trading industry involving lakhs of micro-entrepreneurs and traditional industry practice of long credit and return of goods, the trade body officials said.

Some traders said GST should be deferred for textile sector for at least for a year till everyone in the eco-system was prepared.

The traders body is in touch with the state governmnent highlighting their plight.
Yesterday, state Finance Minister Amit Mitra had said "small and medium-size traders in the country are not prepared for the GST. And we can foresee that we are heading towards a disastrous situation. We are again writing to the Centre to reconsider the roll-out from July one and postpone it until the nation is ready for it.