Pune traders’ stir will spoil Day 2 of Ganeshotsav

If wholesalers and retail traders in the city stick to their guns, this year’s Ganesh festival will be remembered for all the bad reasons. They have decided to join the Bharat Bandh called by various traders’ bodies and political parties across the country on September 20 to protest against the Centre’s decision of allowing FDI in retail sector.

Incidentally, the strike collides with the period when the demand for various goods and eatables normally rises with the 10-day mega festival being at its peak and Gauri Poojan a day ahead. That was the reason why traders’ organisations in the city were finding it difficult to join the strike. The decision of joining the nationwide strike was taken at a meeting of traders’ bodies called by the Poona  Merchant’s Chamber and attended by representatives of 45 organisations.

Hotels, wholesale and retail shops of foodgrain, sweets and pharmacies will remain closed on September 20. Traders of iron and steel, hardware and Pune District Goods Transporters Association will also participate in the strike. 

However, essential commodities like milk and perishable items like vegetables and fruits have been excluded from the strike.
The traders’ bodies across the country are threatening to go on an indefinite strike in October if their demands of revoking decision about FDI in retail, scrapping amendments in shop act and doing away with octroi are not met with. The meeting also decided that it will abide by the decision taken by the traders’ bodies at the national level.