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Vendors oppose Reliance move

CUTTACK: Vendors are up in arms against Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) that is planning to open retail outlets in the city.

The vendors’ federation has given a call for Cuttack bandh on August 8 to protest against the move. Apprehending that the multi-crore outlets would spell doom for shop and kiosk owners, the federation, at a convention here, vowed to oppose tooth and nail RIL’s retail chain.

Two outlets named Reliance Fresh were scheduled to be opened by the first week of August. Each store would sell fruits, vegetables, Reliance select products and grocery items.

“RIL is planning to set up at least seven outlets in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in the near future to woo customers for shopping under one roof,” said federation’s chief Subash Singh. Over 30,000 shops and kiosks in the city were catering to the retail needs of the people here. “If RIL gets into retail business, it will create havoc, throwing shop owners and their staff jobless,” Mr. Singh said. The conventionurged the government to reconsider its decision to allow multi-crore companies to open retail outlets in the twin cities. According to sources, Reliance propose to set up at least 50 rural procurement centres in the State to collect agricultural produce.

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