TRADERS OBSERVE MY VALENTINE-MY BUSINESS TODAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY MASSIVE SAVE RETAIL DEMOCRACY RALLY AT NEW DELHI ON 7th MARCH WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WILL ALSO JOIN IN LARGE NUMBERS While the Valentine Day was celebrated in the Country, the trading community across the Country today celebrated the day in a different way by observing it as "My Valentine-My Motherland" while holding Traders Conferences at different states of India and taking a pledge to say firm "NO" to FDI in Retail Trade under any circumstances. While participating in one such Conference at Bhopal today Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), apex body of the trading community, gave a clarion call to the traders across the Country to join. Massive Save Retail Democracy Rally on forthcoming 7th March at Ramlila Ground, New Delhi which will be attended by thousands of people from all over the Country. The rally is being organized by the Confederation of All In dia Traders (CAIT) and “Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha”, a joint coalition of all retail stakeholders.” Preparations of the Rally with the theme “Retail FDI Bhagao- Apne Watan Ko Bachao” has begun across the Country in a big way. The FDI in Retail is nothing but a struggle between Corporate Aristocracy v/s Retail Democracy. Mr. Khandelwal while addressing the conference alleged that the Union Government has misled the Parliament and the nation on this issue by concealing the true facts and figures and even the State Governments have also been deprived of the real truth of FDI in Retail which is a serious issue and the States must take a cognizance of the same. CAIT MP Chapter President Shri Ramesh Khandelwal, General Secretary Shri Radhey Shyam Maheshwari, National Convener of CAIT Women Entrepreneur Organisation Ms. Seema Sethi, CAIT National Secretary Shri Sanjay Patwari and CAIT Bhopal Unit President Shri Sanjay Aggarwal were also present the Conference. Shri Khandelwal said that in many terms the rally is going to a historical event as senior leaders of all political parties despite of their adverse political ideology will be joining the same platform at Ramlila Ground in Delhi. For the first time different retail stakeholders including farmers, hawkers, traders, labour unions, small industries, transports, self employed groups, cooperative sector etc will also be sharing the same platform to raise their joint voice against FDI in Retail. He further declared that in the forthcoming Assembly election in different States followed by Lok Sabha election in year 2014, the traders and other retail stakeholders will vote against all such parties who are supporting FDI in Retail Trade and will go even at polling booth level to oppose such parties. He also said that the Food Safety & Standards Act enforced by the Central Government is nothing but an open invitation to foreign companies to capture the food supply chain of the Country. The Act in question will promote "packed food culture" in the Country which will prove much detrimental to the interests of existing food business operators. He called upon the Union Government to amend the said Act in consultation with traders. Ms. Seema Sethi, National Convener of CAIT Women Entrepreneurs Organisation while talking to the reporters said that FDI in Retail is also going to hit hard the large number of Women Entrepreneurs as well. As per an estimate about 1.5 crore Women in India are entrepreneurs and there is no such organization who can raise their voice in an effective manner. She said that the Women Entrepreneurs are no less than successful business person in comparison to their male counterparts and as such large number of women entrepreneurs from all over the Country will be participating in the Rally by taking a pledge of “ 7 March Ab Naaraa Hai- Bhavi Itihas Hamara Hai”. CAIT MP State President Shri Ramesh Khandelwal and General Secretary Shri Radhey Shyam Maheswari told that today a “ Traders Conference “ was held in Bhopal which was attended by trade leaders of Bhopal and other districts of Madhya Pradesh and it was unanimously decided that a large contingent of traders from MP will join the Rally at New Delhi. It was also decided to organize “Sampark Yatra” all over the State and in different markets of different cities to arouse awareness among the people of the State .Beside FDI in Retail other issues like Food Safety and Standards Act, VAT issues, and issues of Mandi Traders will also be taken. CAIT National Secretary Mr. Sanjay Patwari informed that a special publicity campaign has been designed to highlight the ill effects of FDI in Retail which will be soon launched at New Delhi at a Press Conference. A unique “Cartoon Campaign” will be another instrument of protest whereas optimum use of social media like facebook and twitter will be made by the traders across the Country.