Twitter
Advertisement

CAIT to turn 7 crore traders into single vote bank for benefits

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the traders plan to launch their campaign 'One Nation - One Trader- One Vote' from February 1.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Unhappy with the alleged raw deal meted out by various governments at the Centre, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the foremost organisation of small businessmen, has decided to launch a nationwide campaign to turn the 7 crore strong trading community into a single vote bank.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the traders plan to launch their campaign 'One Nation - One Trader- One Vote' from February 1. The CAIT passed a resolution to this effect at its national governing council meet in Bhopal on Sunday.

"The political spectrum of the country has so far grossly neglected the trading community and taken a comfortable ride on trading community but now it is time. Traders across the country have decided to bring end to this system," stated the resolution passed unanimously by 200-odd trade leaders from 24 states.

The traders are aware that political parties have started paying attention to them because of their sheer strength in numbers, massive contribution to the GDP and strong presence in social and religious bodies. Congress president Rahul Gandhi meets traders regularly during his electoral campaign. He asks them to give advice in formation of party's election manifesto.

According to estimates, the 7 crore trading sector provides livelihood and employment to nearly 45 crore people and generates an annual business worth Rs 42 lakh crore.

CAIT national secretary general, Praveen Khandelwal said the trading community wants simplified GST, easy finance for traders, brakes to be put on FDI in retail trade and in e-commerce and end to archaic laws and harassment at the hands of bureaucracy.

"There is no financial mechanism to provide financial assistance to traders, while government policies crush small traders. It has become the order of the day and political fraternity is least bothered. We want to put an end to all this," said Khandelwal.

CAIT president B C Bhartia said, "Trader first, political party afterwards will be the slogan of vote bank national campaign. We will demand election tickets from different political parties for trade leaders. The Lok Sabha polls are an opportunity for us to underline our importance."

LIST OF DEMANDS

  • Simplified GST
     
  • Easy finance to traders 
     
  • Brakes on FDI in retail trade and e-commerce 
     
  • Scrapping of anti-trader archaic laws
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement