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Traders from across the country protest e-comm tie-ups, call for bandh

Allege back-door entry for Walmart, Amazon in India

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Retailers and traders from across the country are up in arms against the Flipkart-Walmart deal and the one between Amazon and More. Already reeling under financial stress, traders fear these mega deals will hurt their interests further. The Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal has organised a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi today, while the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a Bharat Bandh on September 28.

Traders claim the deal will give back-door entries to multi-national giants like Walmart and Amazon. Organisations representing small traders have lined up protests to scrap such deals. The Federation claimed that FDI in retail sector has posed a threat against livelihood of traditional neighbourhood shops. "The present rules do not allow Walmart to operate in India, but after buying controlling stake in Flipkart, it can gain backdoor entry. Similarly, Amazon will enter into organised retail after buying out More," said Jayendra Tanna, national executive president of the Federation.

VK Bansal, national general secretary of FAIVM said that over 1,000 traders from across the country and about half-a-dozen private businesses will stage the protest. "The dharna is against FDI in retail in Indian market. Companies like Walmart break rules with impunity, which is affecting the business of small traders. Metro Cash-and-Carry has permission only to sell in wholesale market," he said.

"However, it has sneaked into retail now, allowing everyone to buy. They also promote home delivery, which is illegal," Bansal said.

Miffed with the onslaught of online drugstores offering nearly 60% discounts, Maharashtra State Chemists & Druggists Association is also participating in the bandh on September 28. The Association fears that nearly 8.5 lakh conventional pharmacies across the country will be deprived of their livelihood. They want restriction on number of prescriptions to be handled by online pharmacies. Besides, digital prescription be allowed and not the scanned copy. Each state must have complaint redressal cells. The Association fears that nearly 8.5 lakh conventional pharmacies across the country will be deprived of their livelihood.

The CAIT has also started a three-month long Rathyatra to create awareness about the threats posed by such deals. A chariot will criss-crossing about 20,000 km through various states. At present it is travelling in Madhya Pradesh. Mahendra Shah, national chairman of CAIT said that its time traders united. "MNC giants resort to predatory pricing, a turf where small retailers can't compete. Once small traders are eliminated and monopoly established, they will increase the prices of goods and exploit the customers," Shah said.

The cause is getting support from financial capital of the country as well. "We support the protest against Walmart and their unfair trade practices. However, we will not shut down shops and outlets to avoid inconvenience to people," said Viren Shah, president of Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association.

It may be recalled that businessmen from Jaipur had forced retail giant Carrefour out of the city. Suresh Saini, president of Jaipur unit of All Rajasthan Dukaandaar Mahasangh said that they too will join the bandh. "Smaller shopkeepers are getting affected. Business has dropped by 50%. We want that smaller shopkeepers should be protected from this unfair competition," said Saini.

(Chhavi Bhatia in New Delhi, Abhishek Tiwari in Jaipur, Sanjay Jog and Shashank Rao in Mumbai)

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