Approximately 40 prominent trade unions in Delhi participated in strikes and staged protests on Friday against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1.

The traders are opposing the GST regime because of its “exorbitant tax slabs” and “convoluted processes”, the Hindu reported. 

Chamber of Trade and Industry’s national convener Brijesh Goyal said, “On Friday, representatives of prominent trade unions from across the city will hold a protest at Kashmere Gate market.”

So far the bandh in Delhi has garnered support from the Chandni Chowk Cloth Market Association, the Tank Road Association from Karol Bagh, the Commuter Traders’ Association from Nehru Place, the Delhi Marble Association, and the Footwear Association of Ballimaran, among others.

The stick isn’t limited to Delhi. Around 50,000 textile dealers in Ahmedabad shut down their shops in protest on Thursday. Traders in Kanpur stopped an express train to Jhansi in support of the strike.

The Delhi Congress unit came out in support of the traders. “GST in its current form will not only ruin the small and medium businesses but also lead to large-scale unemployment,” said Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken.