No effect of ‘Bharat Bandh’ on trade, says traders’ body CAIT

New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) The general strike — Bharat Bandh — called by farmer organisations on Tuesday had no effect on trading activities across the country, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).The farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, who have been agitating over the bills, described them as “black laws” since November 26 at several borders of the national Capital, called for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Tuesday.Besides the bandh, there is also a call for no vehicular movement — Chakka Jam — across the nation from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.”As usual the markets in Delhi and across the country remained fully operative conducting smooth business activities, including Delhi,” the Confederation said.”Movement of goods all over the country also remained unaffected,” the traders body added.The CAIT claimed that more than seven crore business establishments were completely open throughout the country and business activities continued unabated.CAIT and the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA), the largest organisation of the transport sector on Monday, gave a nationwide call to traders and transporters to keep their business establishments open on ‘Bharat Bandh’.According to CAIT Secretary General, Praveen Khandelwal, business establishments and transport companies prominently in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, among other states remained completely operative where both wholesale and retail markets remained operational in full force and transport services were also conducted smoothly.–IANSrv/sn/khz