State-wide APMC bandh on Dec 21 over increase in cess

Hubballi: APMCs across the State will remain shut for a day bandh on December 21 to protest against the increase in APMC cess.

This decision was taken in a meeting organised by APMC traders here.

The government’s move to increase the cess to 1 per cent from 0.35 per cent is unscientific. This would directly lead to the exploitation of the farmers, it was noted in the meeting.

“On December 21, all APMC will remain shut for one day. On December 23, a meeting of APMC traders representatives from across the State will be held at the KKCCI auditorium in Bengaluru. ST Somashekhar will be summoned to the meeting and will be asked to provide assurance in writing to revert the APMC cess to 0.35 per cent. If such an assurance is not provided then APMC bandh will be extended for an indefinite period, APMC working committee chairman Shankaranna Munavalli said.