Traders in the State on Sunday demanded major changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), including removal of collection of 18% as charge for bank transactions and bringing petrol and diesel under the GST.

Shops across the city had downed shutters as part of Traders Day celebration on Sunday when thousands of traders, along with their families, attended the 36th annual conference at the YMCA grounds in Royapettah.

In a set of resolutions passed here at the meeting, the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peramaippu also called for exemption of GST for agriculture products, textiles, sports goods and food items. Peramaippu president A.M. Vikramaraja said the upper limit for e-way bills under GST should be increased to ?5 lakh which would benefit small traders. “GST rates should be brought down according to international standards and there should only be two rates - 5% and 12%,” he added. “If the government that comes to power at the Centre does not implement our demands, traders plan to gherao Parliament,” he said.

N. Senthilnathan of Thanjavur said the model code of conduct should be brought to a close in the State since the voting was over.