Gujarat traders call for bandh

Rajkot, Jun 7 (UNI) Traders today called for a bandh in Rajkot, Jamnagar and Junagadh to demand the state government to abolish octroi with immediate effect, instead of November 15.

Rajkot Engineering Association President Bhavesh Patel told UNI that the government should pass a resolution in the Assembly abolishing octroi immediately.

''The decision to abolish octroi from November 15 will subside the ongoing agitation of traders over abolition of octroi,'' he lamented.

Greater Chamber of Commerce Secretary Dhanshukhbhai Vora expressed similar views. ''Despite ruling the State for over ten years, BJP has not been able to abolish octroi despite making promises in their election manifesto,'' he said.

The decision to abolish octroi was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday, chaired by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The government has directed its finance department to work out viable alternatives to octroi before Diwali.

Meanwhile, trade communities in Rajkot, Junagadh and Jamnagar downed their shutters and expressed solidarity with the Octroi Abolish Action Committee (Jakat Nabudi Pagla Samiti). About 90 associations of various trade communities are supporting the agitation, Mr Vora added.

UNI