CAIT to Approach Government and Judiciary Over Business Losses Caused by Protests

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has announced plans to approach government authorities and the judiciary regarding business disruptions caused by political protests, sit-ins, and demonstrations. The trade body is seeking measures to protect commercial activities and ensure the livelihoods of traders across the country.

To address these challenges, CAIT has scheduled a one-day national meeting of senior trade leaders from all states in Delhi on November 13. The gathering will assess business losses resulting from various agitations in the national capital over the past month and formulate a coordinated strategy to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT and Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, stated that representatives from major state trade organisations will participate in the discussions. According to Khandelwal, disruptions from protests impact not only retail sales and physical shops but also supply chains, the movement of goods, employee livelihoods, and the cash flows of small businesses.

These disruptions carry severe consequences when they coincide with critical commercial periods such as the festive and wedding seasons. As part of its strategy, the traders' body will deliberate on proposing designated locations on the outskirts of cities or other appropriate areas for protests and demonstrations. The proposal aims to balance the democratic right to protest with the uninterrupted operation of major commercial centres, markets, transport routes, and essential business activities.

Alongside the issue of protests, CAIT National President B.C. Bhartia noted that the November 13 meeting will address several broader concerns affecting the trading sector. These include Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, protection against cyber fraud, and the simplification of business regulations.

Discussions around GST will focus on simplifying procedures, reducing complexities in compliance requirements and returns, resolving technical difficulties, and limiting unnecessary notices and litigation. The meeting will also review cyber fraud risks involving digital payments, UPI, banking transactions, and online commerce, while considering grievance redressal mechanisms, assistance for cyber fraud victims, and issues related to unnecessarily frozen bank accounts.

CAIT National Chairman Brij Mohan Agarwal stated that the agenda will further evaluate the concept of 'One Trader-One Licence', which seeks to minimize the requirement for businesses to obtain multiple licences from different departments. Additionally, the meeting will examine outdated laws and compliance burdens, with plans to formulate recommendations for amendments or repeals.

Other key topics on the agenda include expanding digital commerce, e-commerce platforms like Bharat e-Mart, promoting Swadeshi products, strengthening Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), supporting exports, and improving access to new markets.

CAIT emphasized that its objective is to establish a clear balance between democratic rights and commercial activities, maintaining that the right to conduct business and earn a livelihood must be protected alongside the right to protest.

"The initiative by CAIT highlights the critical need to protect small businesses and retail supply chains from unpredictable disruptions, especially during peak commercial seasons like festivals and weddings. Addressing compliance burdens, streamlining GST procedures, and protecting MSMEs from cyber fraud are vital steps for strengthening the domestic trading ecosystem. Balancing democratic rights with commercial continuity will provide much-needed stability to India's entrepreneurial landscape." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes