APMC traders down shutters, rice mills closed to protest imposition of 5 pc GST on rice

BENGALURU/DAVANAGERE: Opposing the imposition of GST on unbranded rice, dal and other cereals and pulses, over 2,300 traders at Asia biggest APMC yard in Yeshwantpur downed their shutters on Friday. In Davanagere, rice mills have shut for two days from Friday and stopped sales.

The Centre recently brought unbranded items like flour and rice under 5 per cent GST slab if they are pre-packaged and labelled. Traders at the APMC say this will not only hurt customers, but will affect their businesses too.

“Though we will be suffering losses in crores by shutting down for a day, we demand that the government remove unbranded rice and other items from the 5 per cent GST bracket. If the government does not respond positively, we will take up a stronger protest,” said Paramesh of the APMC traders’ association.

In Davanagere, rice mills are observing a two-day shutdown to register their protest. The rice mill owners’ association had written to the state government demanding removal of GST, but since there was no response, they decided to close business for two days.

The association has said that it will discuss the future course of action if the government decides to go ahead with implementation of GST from July 18.