Traders' strike gets good response in twin town

The stir to protest local body tax (LBT) saw as many as two lakh shopkeepers in the twin town down shutters for the entire day on Thursday, causing inconvenience to residents.

Federation of Associations of Pimpri Chinchwad (FAPC) had called for the bandh protesting against LBT which would replace octroi duty. Nearly 20 trader associations, including cloth merchants, jewellers, builders, plastic manufacturers, scrap dealers, restaurants and hotels, fruit sellers, marble etc., had supported the strike.

FAPC president and Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Babar has  threatened to move the court if LBT was not withdrawn. “The state is reeling under drought and global recession is looming large. Instead of finding solutions to these issues, the state’s decision to introduce LBT adds to traders’ worries,” he said.

Trader associations have also threatened to call for an indefinite strike if the LBT decision was not withdrawn by the state government. They also boycotted the lecture organised by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on LBT, shouting slogans like “LBT Hatao”.

LBT would be applicable in the state from April 1 .

@DNA