Traders oppose Flipkart-Walmart deal, take out march
LUCKNOW: The Bharat Bandh organised by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to protest against the Flipkart-Walmart deal evoked a mixed response here on Friday.
Trader leaders took out processions from Lalbagh supermarket to Gandhi statue at GPO to protest against the “antitrader policy of the government.”
“The CAIT has decided to oppose the deal as it will pave the way for 100% FDI in the retail sector. It’s the question of our survival,” said Banwari Lal Kanchal, traders’ leader of UP Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal.
Most of the shops in Hazratganj, Yahiyaganj, Lalbagh, Aminabad, Alambagh, Charbagh, Naka Hindola, Aishbagh, Rajajipuram, Nishatganj, Mahanagar, Bhootnath, Indira Nagar, Gomti Nagar remained open.
However, traders’ leaders claimed that the bandh was a success.
Sanjay Gupta of UP Vyapar Mandal said, “We met the chief
› CAIT has decided to oppose the deal as it will pave the way for 100% FDI in the retail sector. It’s the question of our survival BANWARI LAL KANCHAL, traders’ leader
minister on Thursday and he promised to take up our demands with the centre.
He understood our concerns and assured all help to traders over the issue.”
Kanchal said, “The CAIT has filed an appeal in National Company Law Tribunal against the Flipkart-Walmart deal, which is Draconian for small retailers. Traders hope to win the case in the tribunal because this deal will affect all small traders in the country.”
“We hope that centre will understand our concerns and cancel the deal between the two giants to protect small retailers from going bankrupt,” said Sandeep Bansal of UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal.