The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called a bharat vyapar bandh (all-India trade bandh) for Thursday against the decision of the UPA government to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent in single brand retail.
The CAIT Delhi unit said traders in the wholesale and retail markets in Walled City, Sadar Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Chawri Bazar, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Khan Market, Kashmere Gate, Tilak Nagar, Rohini and Krishna Nagar would down shutters.
CAIT Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said over 10,000 trade organisations across the country were expected to participate in the bandh.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has already extended its support to the bandh.
The government's move has received the support of the business chambers and even the domestic retail players like Big Bazaar, Reliance retail, Shoppers Stop and Aditya Birla group.
“Uneven playing field”
However, Mr. Khandelwal said the FDI decision would create an uneven playing field which would tilt towards the multi-national companies and prove to be a nightmare for traders and consumers. “The government should withdraw the permission of FDI in retail,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Khandelwal said the Indian retail sector was being run successfully by the indigenous capital at the rate of 15 per cent and contributing nearly 10 per cent of GDP, so no FDI was required.
“The foreign retailers can open in big cities, but they will source from mandis across rural India and small towns. With their money and power, overtime they can corner the supply of produce and dominate the outsourcing side,” he claimed.
Mayawati writes to PM
Lucknow Special Correspondent writes:
The Bahujan Samaj Party has pledged its support to the Bharat bandh. At a party meeting here, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati charged the UPA government with ignoring the country's interests.
Ms. Mayawati said she had written to the Prime Minister demanding that FDI be not permitted in the retail sector.
The kind of unity that is being shown by the trade and employee unions, different political parties and even Mr.Anna, for the cause of big kiranas of 58 cities is phenomenal and painfull.
The pain arises from the fact that when millions of farmers across the country are pushed to extereme of sucide under the debt from these very own kirana walas, no one even tried to raise it at the national level, not even a single day "bandh" was organised, nor even a couple of parliament debates nor did Anna or Mayawati or Uma Bharti, ever gave the hoax promises or leadership that they are showing at present.
The time is not very far when the major half of this "We the People" of this largest democracy will loose their faith and start looking "beyond democracy".
And since the media is too busy covering the "58" cities, not even the tip of the ice-berg could be visible.
This is exactly the REASON why we need more players of international repute in retail. Our local retail associations and federations wrap themselves with the national flag whenever it is convenient for them. But in reality they don't have the slightest concern for the average citizen of this country. Why can't they put forward their views with some degree of civility without resorting to bandhs and shutdowns at the drop of a hat?
We all are aware that Indian History books mention 'Gupta's Period'as Golden period. For whom, ponder? Why do we see so many petty shops around from Pan, Kirana shop to Big Bazars/ Malls? At least there is a profitability of 5 to 10% on all commodities whether it is a banana fruit, Apple, a Refrigerator,LED TV or a PC. The sales and other tax collection system must be modernised. India can double its tax revenue if sincerity prevails in transactions. Self assessment and integrity play a vital role here. The way we renovate our shop with times we must invigorate our mind too in national interest. PM wants to improve the BPL population and we all must strengthen his hand in all his efforts. Jai Hind !
The fact that the lobby of middlemen is dead-set against the move for diluting FDI holding in multibrand is proof of the fact that this group's stranglehold on the consumers will decrease, The move is most welcome;from the basic producers and the buying public. Exploitation by the middlemen will end. It is the only group which will be affected and none others
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