Reliance outlet attack: George to visit Ranchi

New Delhi, May 13 (UNI) NDA convenor George Fernandes today condemned the police lathicharge on vegetable vendors protesting against the opening of Reliance fresh outlets in Ranchi.

''The poor vegetable vendors, both men and women, whose livelihood is being seized by the billionaire Ambanis and their agents, were thrown to the ground and beaten black and blue by police yesterday. This is a criminal act and a disgrace to the government,'' one time trade union leader Fernandes said in a statement here.

''Having become agents of national and international multinationals, the Union and the state governments have committed themselves to sell the country through various instruments be they Walmarts or SEZs. The misery of the poor means nothing to them,'' he said.

Mr Fernandes said he would visit the site tomorrow.

The Ranchi administration has already suspended two policemen involved in the lathichage.

Police had swung into action after 200-strong vendors vandalised three Reliancefresh outlets, breaking gates, smashing glasspanes and pulling down shelves of vegetables, fruits and groceries. They even looted one of the shops.

At least six policemen were injured when the protestors attacked them with stones. Several vendors was injured in the lathicharge.

The Vendors say their business is taking a beating as Reliance is selling their products at a much cheaper rate, and pushing them out of the market.

People have been queuing up to buy vegetables from the three Reliance shops set up in Ranchi in the past three months.

Thousands of vegetable sellers, mostly women, are demanding that the Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Retail stores be closed.

UNI