A meeting of traders here on Thursday observed that the government is not following a transparent policy in the organisation of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival. A new confederation of traders belonging to different segments of trade has been formed to chalk out an action plan to deal with the issue.
Binny Immatty, a spokesman of the new federation, said over 20 organisations took part in the meeting which raised serious concern over the lack of transparency in the government move in respect of conduct of the festival. The High Court had stalled the government move to rope in Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi for sale of the festival coupons to be distributed to shoppers during the shopping festival.
The government invited other prominent traders’ organisations to discuss the issue last week. Mr.Benny alleged that the talks held last Friday at Thiruvananthapuram was farcical. He said 21 organisations which took part in the deliberations urged the government to continue the methodology adopted last year and assured it of the traders’ support. But the government was apparently interested in continuing the arrangement with the Ekopana Samithi, he said.
Mr. Benny said the Ekopana Samithi had no right to take part in the meeting convened by the government as it had not renewed its registration for the past three years. With the majority of traders’ organisations turning against the present mode of conduct of GKSF, it was illogical to go ahead with the festival in its present form, he said.
