Pune: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has decided to call Bharat trade bandh on September 28 to protest against the Walmart-Flipkart deal and FDI in retail trade. CAIT will also release a Traders Charter and hand it over to the Prime Minister.
Speaking about the protest, CAIT West Zone Coordinator Ajit Setiya said the traders are opposed to the Walmart-Flipkart deal. “The deal will create an uneven playing field and wipe out competition due to their business module which entails predatory pricing, deep discounting and loss funding,” added Setiya.
Terming the issue as a serious one for survival of retail traders, the trade leaders from all over the country have decided to keep shutters closed of their establishments on September 28. The traders are demanding the government to interfere in the deal. The traders will take out a protest march in their respective cities.
Setiya said CAIT has sought participation of prominent organisations of the unorganised sector including The Pune Merchants Chamber, JITO–Pune, Hamal Panchayat, Pune, national associations of transporters, farmers, hawkers, consumers, MSME and other like-minded bodies. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch has agreed to support the traders.
CAIT is active in moving the court against Walmart-Flipkart deal, according to Setiya. “Under any circumstances, this deal should not be allowed and the traders will fight the same with tooth and nail. The government should come up with a robust and transparent policy for e-commerce and a National Trade Policy for retail and a separate ministry be constituted,” added Setiya.
The Traders Charter will be presented to district collectors, tehsildars, MPs, MLAs at all places on September 28 at 12.30 pm.
