Protests spoil the fun for Wal-Mart, Bharti

NEW DELHI: Just as Wal-Mart announced its India entry through a wholesale joint venture with Bharti Enterprises, a consortium of mass-based organisations comprising traders, hawkers, farmers and trade unions came out in protest.

‘Vyapar Rozgar Bachao Aandolan: A Movement for Retail Democracy’ said in a statement on Monday: “Wal-Mart is trying to enter Indian retail market by circumventing the existing laws and the wholesale cash-and-carry permission is being misused for the purpose.”

The consortium is threatening a protest march on August 9 across the country to press its demand of ‘Corporations to quit Retail’.

Says Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary, Confederation of All India Traders, “The government must stop multinational corporations from entering through the back door via wholesale cash-and-carry permission, which Wal-Mart is using to enter into India’s retail trade.”

Vandana Shiva, director, Navdanya, said: “India’s two largest sources of employment and livelihoods are in the retail and agriculture sectors, the two sectors which Wal-Mart seek to enter and control.

The huge hype around the Wal-Mart, Bharti joint venture is nothing but a hijack of our vibrant, well- organised retail service economy”.

Hakim Singh Rawat, president of the Hawkers’ Association, said: “Hawkers will be the hardest hit by the Wal-Mart Bharti chain as hawking is the only source of livelihood for millions who will be left without any job or income with the rise of mall culture.”