Ludhiana business associations to form Anti Babu Morcha

Ludhiana: Alleging harassment by several Central and state government departments, more than two dozen business associations of city are going to form a joint platform comprising industrialists and traders which will be called as Anti Babu Morcha (ABM). A session with hundreds of businessmen will be held on Wednesday at Circuit House in which some prominent faces are expected to participate.According to the industry insiders, the businessmen will decide about the future course of action and form a committee consisting of representatives from trade and industry. They would devise the strategy of their morcha for putting up resistance against frequent raids and inspections being conducted by several departments including I-T, GST department, DRI, labour department, MC, NGT etc. They will also seek action against the corrupt officials who allegedly harass businessmen.
Speaking to TOI, Rajesh Khanna, one of the organisers of the meeting said, “Keeping in view the increasing atrocities of several state and Central government departments and the constant threat being inflicted by officials of these departments, we are going to form Anti Babu Morcha on Wednesday which will comprise representatives from trade and industry sector. The participants will chalk out the framework in the meeting.”
Gurdeep Singh Gosha, general secretary of Akali Dal, Ludhiana, who is also participating in this meeting said, “I want to clarify that this is not a political meeting and the Anti Babu Morcha is not a political platform. I am being part of it as I have always been standing with the business community against all odds and will continue to do so. After GST implementation and demonetisation, the overall business scenario has become grim and inspite of this, the state and Central government departments are leaving no stone unturned to target small businessmen by conducting raids, surveys and inspections. What is even worse is that the departments which were never heard of or have no connection with industry and trade too are allegedly harassing the businessmen. Now, it has become necessary for the businessmen to form a platform or an organisation, which can stand upto the actions of the departments and teach them a lesson.”