Agra: Protesting against the Goods and Service Tax (GST) on textiles, cloth merchants in Agra initiated a three-day shutdown on Tuesday. According to market experts, the shutdown till June 29 will result in a loss of Rs 150 crore.The traders are against the GST Council’s decision to levy 5% tax on textiles. Agra is a major centre for this trade. Besides 900 big wholesalers, there are more than 7,000 small and medium textile businesses here.Local merchants under the banner of Agra Cloth Mercantile Association (ACMA) gathered at Shubhash Bazaar and staged protest against the new tax regime that will kick start from July 1.ACMA patron TN Agarwal said, “Cloth merchants are united against GST. We have taken a unanimous decision that no businessman will do the mandatory registration for GST. Cloth is a basic requirement of every citizen and its sale and purchase must be tax free. All major textile markets in different states are observing a 72-hour shutdown. Soon, a nationwide protest will be launched in case the government doesn’t make the required changes for the industry.”ACMA president Sanjay Agarwal said, “A majority of traders have no idea about how to file returns after the GST is implemented. Without preparedness, how can the government implement GST? If the government does not find an amicable solution to our problems, we may call an indefinite strike.”Cloth merchant Krishna Murari Agarwal said, “Agra is a major centre for textile trading. Thousands of people are involved in its retail and wholesale business. Each day of strike will result in losses amounting to Rs 50 crore.”

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