Traders’ unions to resume strike today

Citizens will now have to gear up for more hardship. During the first week of April,a similar situation arose when retail shops remained closed for six days. Consumers had to struggle to get enough supply of food material,milk and other basic amenities.

The decision was announced by leaders of the Federation of Traders’ Unions of Pune on Tuesday,after Supreme Court deferred the hearing of a petition filed by the Federation from Tuesday to May 10.

Ajit Sethiya,president of Pune Merchant’s Chamber said,“The government requested SC to give them some time to present their case. The court granted them time till May 10.”

In the last week of March,Bombay High Court had rejected a similar plea filed by the Federation.

The Federation is unhappy with several of LBT’s ‘unjust’ provisions,most importantly inclusion of small traders,who do not import goods,and compulsion to maintain accounts for each and every sale.

Pune Saraf Association,Laxmi Road Cloth and Readymade Association,Aryan and Steel Merchants’ Association,Machinery Merchants’ Association,Wholesale General Merchants’ Association,Pune Timber Merchant’s and Saw Mill Association,Pune Chemical Dealers Association are some of the major unions that will participate in the strike.

Meanwhile,Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh has said the authorities would be invoking the Essential Commodities Maintenance Act if the traders’ agitation started affecting supply of essential commodities. “The 1,000 fair price stores would be operational and we would be setting up squads to ensure essential commodities are not in short supply,” he said.