Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad traders on indefinite strike from today

Alleging apathy on the part of the state government to find a solution to the vexed issue of local body tax (LBT), traders in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have announced an indefinite market bandh from Wednesday.

President of Federation of Trade Associations of Pune (FTAP) Popatlal Ostwal informed mediapersons that since more than 80 trade associations are participating in this strike, markets in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad would remain closed from Wednesday. He alleged that instead of finding a solution to the LBT issue, the government was buying time without coming out with concrete action and ignoring major demands of traders. He said the government had brought in octroi with more stringent provisions in the name of LBT and that is why traders are going on an indefinite strike.

FTAP secretary Mahendra Pitaliya said the vegetable market and vendors and chemists have been allowed to function in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. He said if the state government did not take any decision on the demands by traders, they too would participate in the indefinite strike.

Ostwal said traders closed down the market for six days in Pune to protest against the LBT. After chief minister Prithviraj Chavan gave assurances on the floor of the House during the budget session, the traders called off the indefinite strike.

During the meeting between the chief minister, officials and the FTAP delegation, the state government had assured them of removing taxes while introducing VAT and even after seven years of VAT none of the taxes have been removed.

Ostwal said that as the provisions of LBT amounted to harassment, the traders have decided to press the demand for scrapping LBT.