Overview

• More than 20,000 bars and permit rooms will close on Monday to protest a doubling of VAT, a 15% increase in licence fees and a 60% hike in excise duty.
• The bandh is supported by AHAR, NRAI, HRAWI, PRAHA and the Nagpur Gramin Bar Association, with over 6,500 rural outlets in Vidarbha and all liquor shops joining until 6 pm.
• The sector directly employs about 400,000 people and its shutdown would endanger more than 2 million jobs across vendors and dependents.
• AHAR president Sudhakar Shetty and other leaders warn of mass closures, irreversible industry damage and a surge in illicit alcohol trade without a rollback.
• No formal response has been received from the state government ahead of the bandh, and protesters demand immediate dialogue to reverse the tax increases and protect tourism growth.