SURAT: With just eight days left for the implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST), over 70,000 textile shops in more than 165 textile markets in the country's largest man-made fabric (MMF) hub in the city will be shut for five days from June 24 to 30.The daily turnover of the textile markets here is pegged at Rs125 crore, which includes sale of saris, dress materials, lace pattis, embroidery and home furnishing fabrics. Surat traders supply goods to key centres across the country.The sector employs around three lakh people who are directly and indirectly connected with the trade. Traders in Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal , Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country too would keep their establishments closed.A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of All India Textile Traders Asso ciation held under the aegis of Delhi Hindustani Mercantile Association in New Delhi after the central government failed to accept the `No GST' demand on textile fabrics on Friday.Textile associations from major cities and states across the country had participated in the meeting. Tarachand Kasat and Jay Lal, officebearers of the GST Sangarsh Samiti (GSS), participated in the meeting from Surat.Textile traders unanimously decided to shut the markets for three days from June 27 to observe `black day' in the markets on June 30. An ultimatum has been given to Centre to accept the GST demand till June 30 or else the textile markets across the country will be shut for an indefinite period.Surat's markets will be shut from June 24 till June 30, unlike other markets in the country observing bandh for three days from June 27.The Textile GST Sangarsh Samiti has decided to shut the markets on Saturday following pressure from textile traders. The markets will open on Monday and then close for four days until June 30.GSS spokesperson Jay Lal said, "Traders from key trading centres across the country had participated in the meeting. Most of them were for shutting the markets for an indefinite period from June 24. However, a decision to shut the markets for five days was taken and that the bandh will be indefinite from July 1. It is going to be Goods and Suffering Tax (GST) for the textile traders. The traders will be so affected that they will have no other option but to shut their shops forever. It is better to combat the government than moving out of the business."

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