Traders in Bengaluru join symbolic protest against FDI in n e-commerce –
Sep 29, 2018
BENGALURU From immediate blocking
of FDI in e-commerce or retail trade to a transparent policy on e-commerce and
a host of other demands under GST. traders in Bengaluru participated in a
symbolic protest and bandh called against the merger of Walmart and Flipkart. thus supporting their counterparts in the rest of the country. While
Yeshwantpur market area and ARMC yard remained closed for two hours between
loam and 12pm. several distributors gathered at Town Hall raising slogans
against what they termed was an onslaught of predatory capitalism affecting
more than seven crore small businesses across the country.
"The Flipkart-WaImart deal is
against the Centre's order from 2016. which does not allow FDI in e-commerce.
As it is, with no proper regulation. e-commerce businesses are affecting prices
and taking away customers from wholesalers and retailers. Now. With the
infusion of more money from outside. they will be able to destroy us
completely. While our efforts today were not a complete success. it was
intended to send a message to the government," said Ramesh Chandra Lahoti,
president, Bangalore Vlholesale Food Grains & Pulses Merchants Association.
Among those who supported the
bandh were the Bangalore Grain Merchants Association, Bangalore Wholesale Food
Grains & Pulses Merchants Association, the APMC Yard Merchants Association.
Local Lorry Owners Association. Bangalore APMC Onion & Potato Merchants
Association and APMC Yard Mandi Hamaligala Sangha. Besides, the Karnataka FMCG
Distributors Welfare Association (KFDWA) also participated.
R Jayant Ganig, president, KFDWA,
argued: "you may have several shops open in Bengaluru, but all our
distributors suspended work. Also, if you sec cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai.
Delhi and other places, there has been a good response. We have a list of
demands that we want the Centre to fulfil." Mixed response to pharma bandh.
The statewide pharmacy bandh
called by the Karnataka Chemists and Druggists' Association saw a mixed
response on Friday. While all chemists' associations agreed in principle to the
protest. not everyone shut shop. In Bengaluru, most shops were open and
operational.
The chemists' grouse has been loopholes in the
draft regulations on e.pharmacies. According to them, restricted drugs such as
anti-depressants might get sold without verification on online portals.
Bruhath Bengaluru Chemists and
Druggists Association has petitioned chief minister HO Kumaraswamy, stating
medicines are not consumer goods to be blindly purchased online. "If
e.pharmacies is allowed, patients may buy cheaper alternatives without
informing doctors, leading to severe side effects in patients." said K
Harish Kumar, general secretary. Bruhath Bengaluru Chemists and Druggists Association.
Click on : Bengaluru Traders
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