12 Political Parties and 11 retail stakeholders to join hands at Mega Rally tomorrow against FDI in Retail

Delhi Trade Bandh Tomorrow- Demonstrations & Protests across the Country  

After Independence, it will be a unique moment tomorrow when senior leaders of minimum 12 leading political parties and 11 prominent stakeholders of retail trade will join hands together in opposing FDI in Retail at Ramlila Maidan  at “Save Retail Democracy Rally”  being organized by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an apex body of trading community and Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha, a joint coalition of stakeholders of retail trade.

Delhi trade markets including Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Rohini, G.T.Karnal Road, Nangloi, Narela, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Punjabi Bagh, Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Vikaspuri, Lajpat Nagar, South Extension, Khan Market, Greater Kailash, Preet Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Vikas Marg, Jagatpuri, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Shahdara, Mandawali, Bhajanpura, Loni Road, Tughlaqabad, Kalkaji, Shriniwaspuri, Darya Ganj, Shradhanand Marg, Budh Vihar etc will remain closed tomorrow.

With a theme of “ Retail FDI Bhagao-Apne Watan Ko Bachao”, the traders and other sectors of retail trade across the Country will warn the Government for its attempt to bring FDI in Retail and will strongly demand to withdraw FDI notification. The protestors will also demand up-gradation and modernization of existing retail trade and will demand a National Trade Policy as also a Ministry of Internal Trade both at Centre and State level.

At a Press Conference held at New Delhi today, the CAIT National Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal informed that delegates have began to arrive in Delhi for participation in the rally. The largest contingent will be from Tamilnadu with 7000 persons attending the rally. Though they do not know hindi and pretty well know that all proceedings at Ramlila Maidan will be in hindi, yet for the sake of demonstration of traders strength and unity such large number of traders have come to Delhi. About 200 people from Tamilnadu have come with their families to demonstrate that the FDI in retail will kill their kitchen and the children will be deprived of the education since it will adversely effect livelihood crores of people of the Country.

Shri Mahendra Shah, National Chairman, CAIT, its National President Mr. B. C. Bhartia, Senior Vice President Mr. Brij Mohan Aggarwal, National Convener of CAIT Women Entrepreneurs Organisation, Mr. Radhey Shyam Maheshwari, Vice President, Mr. A. M.Vikram Raja, President Confederation of Traders Associations of Tamilnadu, its General Secretary Shri K. Mohan and other leaders were present at the Press Conference.

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said that in Delhi,all commercial markets whether wholesale or retail will be closed tomorrow and respective traders and their employees will proceed to Ramlila Maidan whereas strong protests and demonstrations will be held in different states of the Country while observing “Save Retail Democracy Day”. The Goods Transport will also remain closed in support of the Trade Band call. They informed that only shops will be closed tomorrow. Beside FDI in retail, other key issues like anomalies & disparities in VAT, Food Safety & Standards Act, Money Laundering Act, Delhi Rent Act, New Drug Policy, Land Acquisition Act, National Hawkers Policy, proposed GST and Direct Tax Code, formation of Retail Regulatory Authority, Facilitation of infrastructure in commercial markets, reforms in policies of the Local Self Government all over the Country, Safety and security of markets and traders have been included in the charter of Rally.

Both Mr.Bhartia and Mr.Khandelwal also said that programmes of next phase of their nationwide agitation against FDI in Retail will be announced tomorrow at the Mega Rally. They also informed that the CAIT and Confederation of Trade Associations of Tamilnadu will be jointly holding an all India Safety and Security Conference on forthcoming 5th May at Chennai which will be attended by eminent security consultants, retired senior officials of Police and other forces. Trade Leaders from all over India will be participating in the Conferences.

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For more details, please contact CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal at 9891015165-9310199771.