FDI storm: Traders shut shop across country

Delhi

Neighbourhood shops were open but most of the markets in the national capital remained shut today as traders observed the all-India bandh in protest against foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector. BJP also joined the traders’ protest by organising marches and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in at least 20 locations of the city.

Confederation of All India Traders’ Delhi unit president Narender Madan said a large number of traders have kept their shops shut to participate in the all-India bandh.

Madan claimed wholesale and retail markets were closed in Sadar Bazar,Kamla Nagar,Chawri Bazar,Karol Bagh,Kashmere Gate,Tilak Nagar,Rohini,Krishna Nagar and other markets.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said traders across the country were participating in the bandh to protest the government decision to allow FDI in retail.

Around five crore traders belonging to 10,000 traders’ bodies across the country are participating in the bandh. Traders took out marches in commercial markets across the country, Khandelwal said.

Khandelwal said the decision on FDI will create an uneven playing field in the country which will tilt towards MNCs and prove to be a nightmare for traders and consumer.

Maintaining there was no need for foreign investment in the sector,he said,The government should withdraw the permission of FDI in retail.

He said the Indian retail sector was being run successfully by the indigenous capital at the rate of 15 per cent and contributing 10 per cent to the 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 over time,they can corner the supply of produce and dominate the outsources side, he said.

West Bengal

Most shops and establishments in both retail and wholesale segments in West Bengal today downed their shutters in response to an all-India strike.

Most markets,including the wholesale market in Posta area of Burrabazar,the largest in the state,observed a day’s token strike.

The Confederation of West Bengal Trade Associations (CWBTA),the apex body of the most prominent trade associations of the state,with over five lakh small and

medium level traders,said all sister trade bodies are supporting the bandh call.

The traders alleged the Centre’s decision of allowing FDI in retail sector would spell disaster for small traders,in particular endangering the livelihood of millions

of trading community.

Most of the political parties and trade unions have supported the day’s token strike.

Karnataka

A large number of traders in Karnataka joined the strike on Thursday.

Shops were closed in major business hubs in the city. The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI),which is leading the protest,organised a dharna in front of its office here in which several traders

participated.

Reports of bandh also came in from various parts of the state.

Tamil Nadu

Shopowners in Tamil Nadu downed their shutters today protesting against Centre’s decision to allow 51 per cent equity in multi-brand retail.

Nearly 20 lakh traders in the state were participating in the dawn-to-dusk strike spearheaded by Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangakalin Peravai,a body representing traders.

The Peravai leaders wanted the Centre to roll back the decision as FDI in retail trade would harm shop owners and workers.

The famous Koyambedu Vegetable Market in Chennai was also closed for the day as a mark of protest. However,hotels are not participating in the strike.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had strongly condemned the decision,alleging it was taken under pressure from a few retail giants. Tamil Nadu government would not allow multi-brand global players to set up their markets in the state,she had stated.

DMK President M Karunanidhi,who’s party is an ally in the the ruling UPA,had also raised apprehensions over the Centre’s decision and demanded the decision be withdrawn immediately.

A report from Puducherry said all shops and business establishments downed their shutters to register their protest against the Centre’s decision.

The bandh was called by Puducherry Chamber of Commerce. Various political parties have also supported the bandh.

Odisha

Shops and business establishments in several places of Odisha were shut today

in response to the country-wide bandh call.

Trading was affected in places including the state capital Bhubaneswar,Cuttack,Berhampur,Sambalpur,Rourkela and Balasore during the shutdown.

The bandh was backed by different political parties,trade unions and socio-cultural organisations.

The BJP’s traders’ cell also backed the shutdown and asked business establishments across the state to stop all activity during the protest action.

All Orissa Vendors Association has asked all members in the state to stop business during the bandh called by the All India Retailer and Traders Association.

Bihar

The dawn-to-dusk country-wide trade bandh called by various trade unions evoked little response in Bihar with shops in major markets remaining open.

However,many private schools remained closed as a precautionary measure in view of the bandh which has been called to protest against the Centre’s decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.

The ruling NDA in Bihar has extended support to the bandh while Congress and LJP are opposed to it. The bandh is so far peaceful, Director General of Police

Abhayanand said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said he would not allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail sector in Bihar.

Maharashtra

Around 35 lakh small and medium traders across Maharashtra,including Mumbai,kept their shops shut today in response to the bandh.

“We have received good response for the bandh in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai as traders of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) have joined call to support the one-day bandh. Major markets of grain,fruits and vegetables,onion and potato and ‘kirana’ have observed bandh today,” Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) President Mohan Gurnani said.

About 35 lakh small and medium traders from across Maharashtra have downed shutters today in protest against the FDI policy,Gurnani claimed.

FAM is the apex body for over 750 trade,transport and small scale associations.

“The UPA government will have to withdraw its decision. We don’t want FDI in retail. A government that does not think about its people should be pulled down,” Gurnani stated.

After the bandh,we will go on a hunger strike at Shivaji Chowk on December 3,he warned.

“Traders from all over the country,including Tamil Nadu,Gujarat,Kerala and other states,are strongly opposing FDI in retail. This is a question of our existence and hence there are no divisions,” he added.

The ‘Mathadis’ (workers who carry loads on their head) here have also decided to support the bandh resulting in shutdown of vegetable markets.

“We have asked farmers not to send supplies to the market,” Mathadi Kamgar Vijay Patil said.

Assam

The bandh called by traders in protest against FDI in retail evoked a partial response in Assam today.

Though Fancy Bazar,the business district of the state,and North East region,along with other markets was closed in response to the Bharat Vyapar bandh,shops in many other areas of the state were open.

The Assam Chamber of Commerce and the influential Kamrup Chamber of Commerce,of which Guwahati traders are members,have extended support to the bandh,saying the Centre’s decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in retail trade would snatch the livelihood of millions of small traders and vendors in the country.

Andhra Pradesh

The CPI today decided to join the traders here in their protests as part of the nation-wide stir against over FDI in retail sector.

The party said it would burn effigies at Naraynaguda and organise a dharna at Begum Bazar in the city.

Traders in Begum Bazar,a traditional market for retail shops,have planned to hold protests during the day opposing the policy of the Central government.

Meanwhile,the one-day bandh evoked a partial response in the morning hours here with several shops remaining open. The impact of the bandh in traditional markets like Koti,Sultan Bazar and other areas would be known only later in the day.