FDI in retail: Bandh call gets mixed response

The clarion call by traders, retailers and small shopkeepers for a bandh against foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail saw mixed response in the city on Thursday. While a large number of shops were shut in the suburbs, several in the island city stayed open.
The full force of the agitation was seen in areas like Crawford Market, Linking Road, parts of Dadar and large stretches between Santa Cruz to Borivli, which are the most popular places to shop in Mumbai.

In the eastern suburbs, Ghatkopar, Mulund and Vikhroli belts toed the line. Bakeries and sweetmeat shops in these areas shut soon after being opened, while the shutters of those in Bhandup and Kanjur Marg were closed the whole day. Powai and Sion gave a partial response. “Most of the shops were shut and some people in the area were inconvenienced,” said Jayalakhsmi Narayan, a resident of Chimbai, Bandra.

However, areas like Churchgate, Bora Bazaar, Lower Parel and Worli saw very little to no response. Supermarkets there remained opened throughout the day. “I think almost all shops were open and there was no inconvenience while shopping,” said Saifuddin Kapasi, a resident of Bora Bazaar.

Political parties opposed to the government’s FDI proposal were seen joining a few traders. Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders’ Welfare Association, 25 shopkeepers and BJP’s Raj Purohit were arrested for raising slogans in Dhobi Talao. They were released on a personal bond bail later in the afternoon.

Shah claimed that the bandh saw response from 80%-90% of traders. When asked about shops within the city staying open, he said, “From what we have heard, a few opened their shops after 5pm as they became restless. For that, we cannot do anything. But getting a response like this in Mumbai is good.”