Traders protest as Wal-Mart Chief arrives in India

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) Traders and small retailers in the national capital today gathered to strongly voice their protest against the entry of retail giant Wal-Mart, as the company's Vice Chairman Mike Duke arrived in Mumbai.

Over 100 protesters waving banners ''Save Small Retailers'' and shouting slogans ''Go Back Wal-Mart, Long Live Justice'' marched on government buildings here. Some broke through police barricades and burnt an effigy representing Wal-Mart.

The trade union will again hold protest demonstrations at the Delhi airport with placards against the US-based retailer Wal-Mart Chief who is scheduled to arrive here tonight, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) secretary general Praveen Khandelwal told UNI.

Mr Dharmendra Kumar, campaign organiser in New Delhi for India FDI Watch, a coalition representing trade unions, traders, students and communist parties, said hundreds were expected to join the protests.

A Wal-Mart team lead by Mr Duke is in Mumbai for conducting business studies to further explore the wholesale cash-and-carry business in India and is expected to visit key ministers and joint venture partner Bharti Enterprises in New Delhi tomorrow morning.

Earlier this month, CAIT said the letter of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the entry of multi-nationals in the retail sector has raised certain important questions on the government policy on FDI.

Mr Khandelwal said more than five crore retailers across the country were likely to face immediate threat to their livelihood, if the big players were allowed to undertake retailing.

The union has also planned workshops to be held against the entry of Wal-Mart here tommorow.

UNI