Complete shutdown of foodgrain markets in Jamshedpur, SCCI stages dharna before DC office  

Jamshedpur, Feb 15: Scores of traders in Kolhan region on Wednesday joined the one day strike called by Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) against the new agriculture Bill recently approved by the Governor. They kept the shutters of their business establishments down.

Led by SCCI president Vijay Anand Moonka and general secretary Manav Kedia, the members and traders of Kolhan also staged dharna in front of East Singhbhum district collectorate demanding withdrawal of the bill.

The strike witnessed spontaneous response as all wholesalers and retailers dealing in food grains, potatoes and onion, rice mills, flour mills observed bandh.

Talking to newsmen, Moonka said the strike was spontaneous in Kolhan region comprising East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. He noted that the bill may cause price rise of essential commodities and affect the traders adversely as two per cent tax will be levied on agri products in the new bill.

In a recent meeting held under the banner of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber and Commerce, Moonka said it was decided to go on strike.

Moonka said that a meeting of traders from all over the state was held in Ranchi last few days regarding this black law in which all food grain traders from all over the state decided that if the government does not withdraw this law, the traders from all over the state will be completely closed in Jharkhand for an indefinite period from February.

The strike has been supported by Kolhan Rice Mill Association, Flour  Mills Association, Golmuri Bazaar Committee, Sidhgora Bazaar Committee, Kagalnagar Bazaar Committee, Parsudih Bazaar Committee, Bistupur Bazaar Committee, Sakchi Bazaar Committee, Oil Merchants of Jugsalai, Potato- Onion traders, fruit traders and all kinds of food grain traders unanimously agreed to make this bandh a success.

Vice President, trade and commerce, Nitesh Dhoot said that against this black law, all the wholesale and retail food grain traders have come together under the leadership of Singhbhum Chamber and are agitating against it with the support of the Chamber of Commerce and will continue their agitation until it is withdrawn because this with the implementation of the law, inflation, corruption will increase and the Inspector Raj will be established again.

Secretary, trade and commerce, Anil Modi said that traders from all areas of Jamshedpur such as Pursudih, Jugsalai, Chakulia, Mango, Golmuri, Burmamines, Bishtupur, Sakchi, Kadma, Sonari and all other markets have unanimously registered their presence by supporting bandh. Not only wholesale but also retail trade was closed today for the whole day and a strong message will be sent to the government.

Chamber President Vijay Anand Moonka, Honorary General Secretary Manav Kedia, Vice President Trade and Commerce Nitesh Dhoot, CA Dilip Golechha, Secretary Trade and Commerce Anil Modi, Vice President Piyush Chaudhary, Treasurer Kishore Golchha besides President Deepak Bhalotia, Vice President Pawan Naredi, Secretary Karan Ojha, Satyanarayan Aggarwal, Rajesh Aggarwal, Ramu Debuka, Binod Mittal, Bunty Angwal, Manoj Kumar Goyal, Prem Kumar Aggarwal, Shankarlal Aggarwal, Brajesh Gohil, Rajnish Aggarwal, Ankush Sachdeva, were present.