Traders Federation to contest polls

Chennai, Mar 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Traders Federation, an apolitical body with the support of 65 lakh retail traders in the state, today announced its entry into electoral politics, but ruled out supporting either the AIADMK or DMK-led fronts in the May eight Assembly elections.

Federation President T Vellaiyan told newspersons here that in the absence of any political party coming forward to support its charter of demands, which included a ban on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Retail Trade, the Federation had decided to field its candidates in all 234 constituencies in the state.

A decision to this effect was taken in the Federation's state general council meeting held at Tiruchirapalli on March nine, he said, adding 'as none of the political parties are keen on protecting our interests, we have decided to contest election to fight for our rights.' Charging that political parties were not sincere towards their demands, he said the Federation, however, would reconsider its decision, if any political party gave an assurance to support the demands. The Federation had sent the demands to 33 political parties in the state, but no one had come forward to give support, he added.

The Federation was happy that the DMK, in its recent state conference, had adopted a resolution urging the Centre not to allow FDI in retail trade, and so had the Left parties, but the Centre, ignoring their pleas, had allowed 51 per cent FDI in single brand retail trade, Mr Vellaiyan said.

The Federation's other demands included non-implementation of Value Added Tax, Resale Tax, ban on soft drinks produced by multinational companies, preventing multinational companies from exploiting ground water resources for making soft drinks and abolition of Fringe Benefit Tax, he said.

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