Traders say the already ongoing onslaught of offers from e-commerce firms and shrinking purchasing power of the masses has caused businesses to drop by about 75%
Shopkeepers in Gujarat are feeling cheated by the NDA government at the Centre as the government is allowing FDI in retail, which they had opposed when they were in Opposition.
"Arun Jaitley (Finance Minister) and Sushma Swaraj (Minister of External Affairs) opposed FDI in retail when the UPA government allowed minority stake in FDI in retail. Now, the government is allowing a 100 per cent FDI and supporting it," said Mahendra Shah, national chairman of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) while interacting with media persons in the city on Tuesday.
The traders have been complaining that the onslaught of offers from e-commerce companies coupled with shrinking purchasing power of the masses has caused their businesses to drop by about 75%.
Under such circumstances, if the government allows tie-ups like those between Walmart and Flipkart as well as Amazon and More, small traders will be wiped out from the business.
"The Prime Minister's U-turn on the subject has shocked us all. When he was the chief minister of Gujarat, he opposed 49% FDI in retail. Now, when he is the Prime Minister of the country, he has allowed 100% FDI," said Suresh Tanna, president of Jamnagar Vepari Mahamandal.
Tanna said traders are hurt because of the manner in which the Prime Minister has taken a U-turn. The move will prove to be a death knell for lakhs of traders across the country, he warned.
Pramod Bhagat, president of CAIT in Gujarat said the body has appealed that the nod given to the deal between Walmart and Flipkart by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and it is scheduled for hearing on October 4 at National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.
As a part of protest, close to 10 lakh traders in the state will participate in the national bandh of traders on September 28, spearheaded by CAIT. Traders complained that they have always contributed in social causes when the government has asked and it is this constituency that has been given a cold shoulder by the government.
"We have asked all local organisations to participate in the bandh in a show of strength. This is the only way, the government will realize our might. We made UPA government roll back on FDI in retail previously. We will force NDA government also," said Shah.
RISING INSECURITY
Traders say the already ongoing onslaught of offers from e-commerce firms and shrinking purchasing power of the masses has caused businesses to drop by about 75 per cent
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