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Maharashtra traders to go on strike

The entire trading community in Maharashtra will go on an indefinite strike from December 1, demanding immediate withdrawal of the five per cent service charges imposed on road transport operators and business community.

Traders at the major wholesale markets have been agitating for the past week and have stopped loading and unloading their commodities and essential goods across the country. In a meeting today, they decided to close their shutters for an indefinite period to protest against the government's indifferent attitude towards their agitation.

Sources informed that the meeting was attended by representatives of various associations from places in Maharashtra such as Sangli, Karad, Kolhapur, Nashik, Thane, Kalyan, Panvel, Badlapur, Ulhasnagar, Roha, Ratnagiri, Satara, Pune and Mahad under the chairmanship of Mohan Gurnani, convener of the Action Committee set up by the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra.

Traders are agitating against the multiple impact (both revenue losses and harassment) of the service charges levied on transporters and traders.

Meanwhile, due to the stoppage of movement of essential goods, prices have shot up considerably over the last seven days. The prices of rice and wheat went up by Rs 120 per quintal along with other commodities. The greatest increase was in the price of sugar, from Rs 15 per kg to Rs 25 per kg.

Reports from markets indicated that some traders have already resorted to hoarding with dwindling stocks of essential commodities in the wholesale markets.

UNI