CAIT takes out 50 protest march in Delhi against anti-trader policies

New Delhi, August 1, 2013: Several Departments in Delhi of Delhi Government and all three MCDs are issuing orders since a long time resulting into great harassment and victimisation of trading community and virtually conducting business activities in Delhi has become almost impossible rather much time of traders is wasted in paper compliances.

Highlighting the woes of traders, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today took out protest marches in more than 50 markets of Delhi and warned that if both Delhi Government and Municipal Corporations of Delhi do not heed to the demands of the traders immediately, the traders will left with no other alternative but to launch a strong citywide agitation as traders will not further tolerate injustice with them.

Protest March were taken out in several leading commercial markets including Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Kashmiri Gate, Sadar Bazar, Khari Baoli, Kamla Nagar, Rohini, Ashok Vihar, Rajouri Garden, Krishna Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, Tughalaqabad etc.

CAIT said that the VAT Department of Delhi Government has issued several circulars the compliance of which are almost impossible and this fact has also conveyed to Delhi Chief Minister. A CAIT delegation met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Minister Kapil Sibal and while thanking them for suspending Form T-2 demanded that other VAT issues including Refund from VAT Department, large number of audit notices issued to traders and constant enforcement on Delhi traders needs immediate cognisance and redressal of the genuine problems of the traders. Both Diskhit and Sibal assured the delegation that all such problems shall be looked into priority basis and efforts shall be made to provide relief to traders of Delhi.

On the other hand the CAIT also lambasted Municipal Corporations of Delhi for their anti-trader policies including pressurising traders for payment of parking and conversion charges but not sufficient parking lots have been developed by Authorities. In a deliberate attempt the MCDs have clubbed parking and conversion charges as a pre condition for obtaining Trade Licence from MCD. This is against the provisions of MCD Act, 1957 and authorities have no right to club both issues. The MCD officials are openly flouting provisions of The National Capital Territory Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Act which prescribe an embargo on any kind of penal action in Delhi but on the contrary to it the MCD is regularly issuing several penal notices to Delhi traders. It has scant respect for a law which has been passed by the Parliament. Such an attitude needs to be condemned in its strongest sense. Even the directions of the Chief Minister are not obeyed by the Authorities.

A delegation of the CAIT will soon meet senior BJP leaders and will apprise them about the difficulties of the traders and will demand their direct intervention.