Large protest against FDI by traders, government rigid to implement

New Delhi: A large protest against FDI in retail was seen at Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat in New Delhi when leaders of both BJP and Left front joined hands together to take a pledge to continue their fight against FDI in Retail till the policy is withdrawn by the Government. It is noteworthy that not only NDA but even left parties will also reject the current FDI notification if voted to power in 2014-said CPM Leader Sita Ram Yechury today at the Dharna. Earlier, the NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav and senior BJP Leader Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi have already announced rejection of FDI notification if voted to power in 2014.

 The unprecedented scene of coming together of ideologically political adversaries happened at the “Sankalp Divas “ observed today by retail stakeholders across the Country under the umbrella of Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha,(KFVRM), a joint coalition of all retail stakeholders in India. The strong sentiments of people gathered at the protest and the politicians views gave enough signal that fight against FDI will continue as the protestors took a solemn pledge to initiate a national movement at every nook and corner of the Country for generating a firm view that the political parties supporting FDI in Retail must not be voted in forthcoming Assembly elections in different states and Lok Sabha polls in the year 2014.

Large number activists of organisations of farmers, hawkers, traders, small industry, transporters, cooperatives, consumers, self employed groups and labourers joined the protest who were administered the pledge by Shri Pradeep Sharma, coordinator of KFVRM. Prominent those attended the protest includes Farmer Leaders Naresh Sirohi, Dr. Krishanvir Chaudhary, Trade Leaders Satish Garg, Narender Madan, Ramesh Khanna, Vijay Pal, Saudan Singh & Shakeel Ahemad from Hawkers Federation, Qasim Malik and Raj Kumar Bhatia from fruits and vegetables association, Ved Prakash Gupta,Ravindra Bansal & M. L. Dhawan from SME sector erc.

Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), who is at the forefront in opposing FDI in Retail, cautioned the political parties not to take a ride on the shoulders of traders and other retail stakeholders on issue of FDI in Retail. “The Government has politicized the issue by adopting manipulative tactics in the Parliament for securing majority and the retail stakeholders are prepared to give a fitting political reply to all such parties who have supported the FDI in Retail which is nothing but a tool to control and dominate retail trade of India and to consolidate money from the pockets of masses to the pockets of few big corporate houses of the Country. He reminded the Government that in democracy the head account is more important and we have it with us which will be proved by the ballot boxes of Lok Sabha polls of year 2014.

The notification of FDI in retail contravenes the preamble of Constitution of India which assures social, economic and political justice to the people of India. The entry of MNCs into retail trade will emerge into an uneven level playing field and will hurt the spirit of the Indian Constitution.