'Bharat Vyapar Bandh' may see mixed response

A mixed response is expected to the 'Bharat Vyapar Bandh' on Friday with differential impact across various states, traders' representatives said.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal told PTI that markets in the national capital will close after 2 pm.

Sharing feedback on the Bandh's impact in other states, he said all major markets will be shut in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, whereas it is expected to have 70-80 per cent impact in South India and over 80 per cent impact in the North East states.

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CAIT had called for Bharat Bandh to protest against issues related to Goods and Services Tax (GST) and e-commerce.

Khandewal said going forward, CAIT would launch an aggressive agitation from March 1 in various states targeting chief ministers across political parties on GST related issues.

However, traders' bodies are split over joining Friday's nationwide shutdown call.

While CAIT claimed that the Bandh would be a "grand success" with more than 8 crore traders belonging to over 40,000 business organisations across the country joining it, other trader bodies which PTI spoke to said it was unlikely to have a significant impact as they have not extended support to it.

Bharat Bandh Live updates on DH

Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) National General Secretary V K Bansal said while markets in Surat will be closed, Bandh is expected to have a 10 per cent impact on markets across the country.

Delhi General Secretary of Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal Rakesh Yadav said it has not extended support to the Bandh and markets in Delhi are expected to be open.

Jammu Traders Association President Neeraj Anand said local markets will be open but traders will hold protests.

Uttar Pradesh Traders Association President Sanjay Patwari said there would be a 50-60 per cent impact of the Bandh in the state.