Trader's shutdown agitation total

Thiruvananthapuram, June 27 (UNI) The shutdown agitation called by the traders in Kerala in protest against the entry of national and multinational retail giants into the state was near total with almost all the business establishments pulling down the shutters.

The 12-hour shutdown was near total in all the districts, and protest demonstrations were taken out in district headquarters.

The stir, called by a joint action council of traders and merchants, had the backing of the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Opposition Congress Party.

Inaugurating a Raj Bhavan march of the traders here, CPI(M) State Scretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the entry of multinational retail giants would adversely affect the agricultural sector.

Stating that giants like Walmart were coming to the country when they were loosing the ground in their own countries, he said India was welcoming these giants, while most of the countries were throwing them out.

The march was led by the Kerala Vyapari-Vyvasayi Ekopana Samiti, the Kerala Vyapari-Vyavasayi Samiti and different trade unions.

Their demands included legislation restricting FDI in retail sector, refusal of license to big retail houses by the local bodies and imposition of luxury tax on corporates entering the retail sector. They declared that they would continue their protest till the shops of the retail giants were closed.

A report from Kozhikode said almost all the shops and business establishments in major trade centres, including Valiyangadi, S M Street and Mavoor Road in the district remained closed. The agitating traders took out a march to the Incom Tax office in the city urging the government to rollback the decision.

UNI