Lok Sabha election: Traders to share 10 demands with parties

New Delhi: The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) held a meeting of traders on Sunday and finalised a 10-point agenda, which will be shared with the state presidents of AAP, BJP, and Congress before the Lok Sabha in the city.
"Prior to the Lok Sabha elections, business organisations in Delhi had started raising their demands before political parties and candidates.We brought them together on one platform, and the political party that includes the issues of traders in its election manifesto will get votes from traders," said Brijesh Goyal, chairman of CTI.
The apex traders' body claimed to have members from markets like Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar, Kashmiri Gate, Khari Baoli, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Connaught Place, Rohini, Rajouri Garden and others.
CTI president Subhash Khandelwal said separate demand letters would be sent to the BJP, Congress and AAP candidates in Delhi.
The demands included simplifying the GST system as the traders are struggling with its shortcomings and payment of pension and health insurance after 60 years to traders based on the tax paid by businessmen.
"Providing loans at cheap interest rates to traders and factory owners, spending a portion of the tax collected from traders on the development of that market, improving the e-commerce policy, and ensuring traders of markets like Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar, Janpath, etc., under New Delhi Lok Sabha, get relief from issues of license fees, house tax, etc., discontinuing desealing and bringing a cut-off date were among other demands mentioned by us," said Khandelwal.