AAP Launches Traders Commission in Punjab

Kejriwal, Mann promise end to red tape and ‘tax terrorism’

January 9, 2026: In a move aimed at reshaping Punjab’s business environment, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann met traders and shopkeepers in SAS Nagar to launch the Punjab State Traders Commission. Calling the moment historic, Kejriwal said the initiative marked a long-awaited shift in how small businesses are treated, noting the rare optimism among traders even after four years of AAP governance.

Kejriwal sharply criticised what he termed “tax terrorism” and the bureaucratic harassment faced by shopkeepers, stressing that no country can progress without protecting its smallest traders. He explained that the new commission would bring traders directly into governance through state, district and constituency-level panels involving local administration and police, ensuring that most market-related problems are resolved on the ground without forcing traders to run from office to office.

Chief Minister Mann described the initiative as unprecedented in Punjab, calling shopkeepers the “true patriots” who drive the economy. Highlighting achievements of the AAP government, including merit-based jobs, toll plaza closures and expanded healthcare, Mann and senior leader Manish Sisodia said the commission would ensure the government reaches markets directly. The move is being seen as a step toward a more trader-friendly, market-driven future for Punjab.