JOINT COALITION OF STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE FORMED.
Th e two day meeting of the prominent Trade Leaders of the Country begin today at New Delhi under the umbrella of the Confederation
of All India Traders (CAIT) to discuss controversial Th e day long deliberations among the trade leaders ended with a fi rm
resolution to intensify a joint nation wide agitation against FDI in Retail Trade with organisations of Farmers, Trade Unions,Hawkers,
Consumers, Self-Employed people, Transporters and other section of retail sector.Th e joint delegations will also meet leaders of diff erent
national and regional political parties to garner their support. Th e notifi cation of allowing FDI in Retail is nothing but a document
mortgaging the retail trade of India at the hands of MNC's-alleged CAIT.
Th e trade leaders of more than 20 States are participating in the meeting including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamilnadu, Madhya
Pradesh, Utt ar Pradesh, Orrisa, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chatt isgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, J&K, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
etc. Th e Trade Leaders from diff erent States will sit in a Protest Dharna tomorrow by shutt ing their mouth with black strips with
Handcuff s. Th e Dharna will also be joined by leaders of Farmers, Hawkers and Trade Union Organisations at Jantar Mantar in New
Delhi. Beside Dharna, a live demonstration showing Govt on Ventilator sucking blood of people to depict the gravity of the issue. Th e
CAIT will announce its future strategy and programmes at Dharna itself.
Th e trade leaders while strongly criticizing the role and att itude of the Central Government on this issue said that entire political spectrum
is opposing FDI in Retail whereas on the other hand the credible organizations of Traders, Farmers, Transporters, Labour Unions,
SMEs and even the Consumer organizations are opposing the move, yet the Government notifi ed the policy of allowing FDI in Retail
and that too despite specifi c assurance of the then Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee on the fl oor of the Parliament that FDI in
Retail will be allowed only aft er obtaining consenus. Bypassing the Parliament, the issuance of notifi cation speaks autocratic att itude
of the Government-alleged CAIT. "People of India have every right to question the intent and logic behind FDI in multi-brand retail
which has been severely opposed by majority of Indian population," CAIT said.
Th e trade leaders deply regreted that the Government has given large concessions to MNCs in the notifi cation issued on 20th September.
Th e MNCs have been allowed to open retail stores even in the States who do not have cities with population of 10 lakhs.Th e Government
has also allowed trading of unbranded grain and pulses in Multi Brand Retail. Giving a big jolt to domestic small and medium
scale industry, the Government has allowed 30% purchase from SMEs in their total purchase of fi rst fi ve years. Th e MNCs need not
to purchase 30% from SMEs every year.Providing more advantage to MNCs, the Government has allowed them to open retail store
even from day one but they have been given a time period of 3 years to develop backend infrastructure.Surprisingly there is no mention
of development of Cold Storage and Cold Transport logistics. Th ese deviations from what the Govt is preaching since more than six
months amply refl ects pro-MNCs approach of the Government.
Th e CAIT noted that more than 5 crore business establishments engaged in retail sector and more than 22 crore people dependent
upon their livelihood will have to face detrimental consequencies of allowing FDI in Retail Trade and there will be mass scale of unemployment
and an uneven level playing fi eld will be created in the Country as it has happened in countries like USA, UK, Australia, New
Zealand and other European Countries where the MNC’s are in dominating position and have entered into monopolistic mode & the
ultimate suff erer is the common men.
Th e trade leaders further said that 53 cities identifi ed by the Govt for allowing FDI in Retail Trade assumes much signifi cance as these
cities are the “feeder cities” supplying goods to other cities in their respective states. Allowing opening retail super markets in these cities
will virtually amounts to handing over retail trade to MNCs
In a unanimous resolution adopted at the meeting, it was resolved that instead of laying red carpet for MNC's, the government should
focus on other corrective measures which needs to be taken to further strengthen the existing retail trade. Instead of inviting FDI in
retail, the government should work out a comprehensive strategy to upgrade and modernize the existing retail trade. Th e resolution
demands the Government to roll back its decision of allowing FDI in Retail Trade.
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