Reliance Fresh, Subhikska stores face trader's fury

New Delhi, Sept 20 (UNI) Trade organisations protesting the foray of big corporates today forced the closure of two stores of Reliance Fresh and Subhiksha here.

This incident comes close on the heels of the ransacking and closing down of organised retail outlets in various cities across the country.

The traders' group Rashtriya Vyapar Mandal, that last month stormed Reliance Fresh and RPG Enterprises' Spencer's outlets in Lucknow, led by a delegation of 300 to 400 people, staged a protest outside the outlets in East Delhi.

The protest comes days after leader of Bharatiya Janashakti Party Uma Bharati in a letter to Chairman of Reliance Retail parent Reliance Industries Ltd Mukesh Ambani asked him to close Reliance stores in Madhya Pradesh in two weeks or face action.

Reliance Retail has emerged as a proxy target for people opposing the entry of firms in retail in many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Last month, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati ordered closure of Reliance Fresh stores pending a state government study to gauge the impact of modern retailers on the unorganised businesses.

Also, Reliance was forced to postpone opening of its stores in Kolkata following opposition from a ruling coalition partner, the Forward Bloc.

The nationwide backlash against modern retailers has forced other firms such as ITC Ltd to pare expansion plans.

UNI