New Delhi   

Traders seek review of retail policy

NEW DELHI: Intensifying their nationwide movement against the entry of corporate houses into retail trade, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday launched a “14-Day Representation Drive Fortnight” during, which the traders’ delegation will submit its charter to leaders of all national and regional political parties.

The CAIT will press for an extensive debate on the controversial issue in Parliament and State Legislatures and has convened an all-party conference in Delhi on September 12.

A traders’ delegation of CAIT met Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan here on Saturday and submitted a charter of demands.

The delegation urged the CPI leadership to mount pressure on the Government to review the policy on retail business.

In its charter, CAIT has also demanded a white paper from the Government stating the advantages that are foreseen for retail trade, economy and revenue from the entry of corporate houses in the sector. The charter also demanded the formation of a national policy on retail trade and small and medium industries.

While talking to the delegation, CAIT said Mr. Bardhan extended his support to the traders and urged them to launch a nationwide people’s agitation. Mr. Bardhan, it said, pointed out that corporate houses have no place in retail trade in the country and endorsed the steps taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati recently.

CAIT’s charter further said that due to lack of level-playing field, small retail stores, mid sized departmental and chain shops would be severely hit, depriving millions of people of their jobs and livelihood.

“By adopting predatory pricing policy, giants would fix lower price initially tempting consumers and after wiping out the competition from local retailers, the global retailers would be in a monopolistic position and would be able to dictate the retail prices,” said a statement issued by CAIT.

“Retail trade which is in the hands of crores of people in the country will automatically become the domain of few powerful big organised companies.

It will enlarge distortions in the economy and the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in our country will widen retarding our economic growth and opening the door for ‘crony capitalism’,” the statement further said.

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