Bharat Bandh Today Against Fuel Price Hike, GST, E-Way Bill: What Services Will Get Affected, What Will Not

Protesting against arbitrary regulations, changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and alleged norm violations by e-commerce giants, traders across the country will go a day-long Bharat Bandh on Friday.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: In order to protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a nationwide Bharat Bandh on Friday and claimed that as many as 8 crore traders belonging to over 40,000 business organisations across the country will join the agitation by shutting their commercial establishments. The reason for the protest also includes the new e-way bill and Goods and Services Tax (GST). 

As per reports, the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA) - the apex body of the organised road transportation companies – will also support tomorrow’s bandh and hold a chakka jam (road blockade) during the day. AITWA represents nearly 1 crore transporters across the country and will be joined by The Hawkers Joint Action Committee, a national organisation of hawkers. 

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal told news agency PTI that around 1,500 big and small organizations from all states across the country will protest against GST amendments.

Services That Will Be Affected By Bharat Bandh Today:

1. As per reports, all major commercial markets across the country will remain closed as more than 40,000 trade associations across the country will participate in the 'Bharat Vyapar Bandh' to protest against "draconian, arbitrary and critical" amendments made recently in GST rules.

2. Road services will also witness disturbance as the protest will be joined by All India Transport Welfare Association. The apex body with over 1 crore transporters has asked transport companies to park their vehicles between 6 am till 8 pm on Friday. 

3. Certain documentation services outside courts will also take a hit as Associations of chartered accountants and tax advocates have backed the Bharat Bandh call.

4. Bookings and transporting of bill-generated goods will also be affected. 

5. Several Small and medium-sized enterprises, women entrepreneurs, hawkers, traders, retailers, wholesalers will also join the protest which might result in the closure of several local markets in your areas.

6. Expressing their grief of the changes made in GST norms, no traders will log in to the GST portals.

7. Restrain over tax filing and other tax-related work is expected as several Chartered Accountants, Tax Advocates have extended their support to the Bharat Bandh tomorrow.

Services That Will Not Be Affected By Bharat Bandh Today:

1. To ensure that the people of the country should not have any inconvenience due to the Bharat Vyapar Bandh, the CAIT said that essential services such as medicine shops, milk and vegetable shops will operate as usual.

2. Banking services are expected to remain unaffected.