The anti-retail lobby is now eyeing the southern states for staging demonstrations and protests against emerging retail chains in the country. Save Retail Agriculture and Livelihood Campaign, an ally of the India FDI watch, will stage protests in Bangalore on October 26 against Germany-based AG Metro store, which has been accused of illegally indulging in retail trade in the garb of wholesale.
?We are focussing on the southern states, Bangalore and Chennai, which are going to be the epicentre of our movement. We are mobilising support from local traders who will face direct competition from the retail chains,? said Dharmendra Kumar, director, India FDI watch.
The western and southern regions in the country have so far been peaceful compared to the North and the East and that is why the anti-retail lobbyists want to make their mark here. Last week, thousands of hawkers, traders and protestors met at Mumbai?s Azad Maidan to display their strength.
It all began with Uttar Pradesh, where vandalism by local traders led to the state government shutting down Reliance Fresh outlets and not allowing the company to open any more stores. Encouraged by the UP government?s leniency, it was only a matter of time before such incidents were replicated in other states such as West Bengal and Orissa.
According to an activist of the Karnataka Wholesale and Fruit Committee, the Karnataka government had written to the Centre three years ago explicitly stating that AG Metro was violating the terms and conditions of its trade agreements. However nothing has been done till date, he alleged.
AG Metro is the world?s third largest retailer and is operating in India under its wholesale cash-and-carry stores since regulations do not permit foreign companies to open front-end retail outlets.