Popatlal Oswal, president of the Pune City Merchants Association, said that strike was total. He said that merchants have objected to the amendment which imposes a 10 per cent surcharge on sales tax on tax liabilities of Rs one lakh and one per cent on turn-over tax, which has come into effect from April 1 this year.

FAM plans to meet Chief Minister Narayan Rane next week, to urge him to form the committee he had assured them to look into their demands, failing which they have threatened to resort to an indefinite bandh. Ramesh Pote, secretary of the Poona Foot Wear Dealers' Association, who supported the strike announced that the association had donated Rs 10,000 for Kargil martyrs.