Veg traders against MNCs entry into retail sector

Chennai, Mar 23: Vegetable and fruit markets in Tamil Nadu remained closed as the traders downed shutters and resorted to hunger strike, protesting against the entry of Multinational Companies (MNCs) like Reliance and Wallmart in the retail segment.

More than ten lakh traders and vendors came to the streets across the state, observing a day's fast, demanding that the MNCs be denied permission to enter the retail segment.

In the city, about 10,000 traders observed fast in front of the Koyambedu wholesale vegetable and fruit market complex after closing down the shops. The complex, which witnesses a buz of activities, wore a deserted look this morning.

''Our protest is total success....more than 10 lakh traders observed fast all over the state'', Mr G D Rajasekaran, President of the Koyambedu commercial complex associations' protection committee said.

He said trading activities to the tune of Rs 20 to Rs 30 crore were hit following the closure of shops today. In the Koyambedu complex alone, about Rs ten crore worth trading came to a standstill, he said.

Elsewhere in the state also, the hunger strike call given by the Tamil Nadu Traders Federation and other trader's federations evoked a good response, according to reports received here.

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