The State government must take steps to remove the hegemony of foreigners in retail trading while the Centre must not encourage moves to facilitate the unbridled reign of foreign direct investments in retail sector, traders urged here.
Resolutions were adopted at the 32nd State conference of the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai led by T. Vellaiyan here to mark the Traders’ Day.
A surprise element for the traders was the presence of Housing Minister R. Vaithilingam who explained the various steps taken by the State government for the benefit of traders and without forgetting to solicit the support of the traders to continue “the numerous welfare measures being taken” meaning seeking their support for the AIADMK in the Assembly elections due next year.
Veteran CPI leader R. Nallakannu declared open the conference organised at the organic farming protagonist G. Nammalwar Arangam near New Bus Stand. The meet doubled as the domestic trader protection conference. Peravai state general secretary Devaraj spoke.
All India Traders’ Federation president Shyam Bihari Mishra delivered a special address while national general secretary Vijay Prakash Jain, Kerala State Traders’ Federation vice-president Mariyil Krishnan Nair, Puducherry Traders’ Federation president Raman, Karaikal Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Bhaskaran, and Cauvery Rights Retrieval Committee coordinator Maniyarasan spoke. Traders from throughout the State had gathered in Thanjavur for the conference.
Most shops and trading establishments had downed shutters during the day to facilitate the traders to participate in the conference.
The conference lauded the State government for stopping the Wal-Mart retail outlet at Vanagaram near Chennai and for disallowing Coca-Cola bottling unit near Perundurai in Erode district.
