The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Hartal call brings trade bodies’ rivalry to the fore

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Hartal call brings trade bodies’ rivalry to the fore

Special Correspondent

KSVVS asks traders to ignore the hartal called by KVVES

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Samsthana Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi (KSVVS) has urged traders in the State to ignore the call issued by the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) for a hartal on July 10 to protest against the entry of retail giants in the State.

‘A ploy’

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, KSVVS general secretary Panangottukonam Vijayan alleged that the hartal was a ploy by the rival KVVES to derive maximum benefit out of a clandestine agreement with the Reliance group which had plans to open a string of new-format retail shops across the State. He said the hartal would help the retail giants rather than deter them. “It is ironic that an organisation which opposes hartal should take the initiative to inconvenience the public.” Mr. Vijayan said traders belonging to the rival organisations had joined hands to down shutters on February 23 in protest against the entry of retail monopolies. “There is no point in continuously harassing traders and the general public,” he added. Mr. Vijayan alleged that the KVVES had hoodwinked traders by entering into an agreement with Moserbaer after launching an agitation against the CD marketing company. Pooh-poohing the demand for a legislation in Kerala against entry of monopolies, he said such a law should be enacted by the Union government.

Dharna

Mr. Vijayan, however, added that the State government could control the growth of retail chains in a limited way. The KSVVS was organising a Secretariat march and dharna on July 17 to highlight this demand.

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