Indefinite bandh cripples trade

Bangalore, Aug 2 (UNI) The trading activities of all the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) in the state were crippled as the indefinite trade bandh in protest against the amendment to the APMC Act entered the second day today.

According to Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI) sources, the bandh by all the APMCs in the state was total and would be intensified to press the state government to withdraw the controversial amendment.

FKCCI President S S Patil told UNI that there would be no change in their indefinite bandh till the government accedes to their demands.

He said apart from the trade associations, various farmers' associations and labour organisations also extended their support to the bandh as the amendment was retrograde and hurt the interests of the farmers in the state.

A report from Gulbarga said the bandh call was total and the marketing yard in the city was closed. The traders who downed their shutters held a protest meeting in front of the APMC office.

The bandh was total in Mysore and due to this, the prices of all the essential commodities increased including that of foodgrains, vegetables and fruits. Over 450 commission agents and another 2,000 labourers were participating in the indefinite trade bandh.

The APMC's in Belgaum, Bijapur, Koppal, Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Tumkur and Hassan were also participating in the indefinite trade bandh.

UNI