SP-backed trade' organisation plans 'satyagraha' against malls

Lucknow, July 6 (UNI) A trade organisation would hold a 50-hour long 'satyagraha' in the National Capital this month to protest the ''fast spreading mall culture'' in the country.

Rashtriya Vyapar Mandal president and Samajwadi Party Rajya SAbha member Banwari Lal Kanchal said here today that traders would gather at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 17 to hold the sit in.

''A survey conducted by traders has revealed a 40 per cent dip in trade by shop-keepers who do not have an outlet in malls. ''Ten per cent of the shops have already shut down,'' he alleged.

The survey was conducted at Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chattisgarh and a few other states.

''Malls and shopping chains are selling goods at prices much higher than feared...people are being fooled into believing that they were buying commodities at lower prices than open market,'' he claimed.

He said the Left parties too have come out in support of the Samajwadi Party-backed organisation in checking the mall culture.

''Now the Centre is planning a national policy on retail chains and shopping malls...this is a small victory for us,'' he said.

UNI