Protests in Maharashtra over FDI in retail

Mumbai, Aug 9: The Federation of Association of Maharashtra along with other trade associations, representatives from hawkers, street vendors and other interest groups are holding a mass rally to protest against the Centre's decision to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail.

Thousands of traders, hawkers, farmers and workers had protested here yesterday against the Union Government's go-ahead to the opening of Bharti-Wal-Mart retail chain across India.

Terming the move as one 'which aims at mortgaging India into the hands of the overseas business tycoons', protesters, who also included a group of American students, demanded that Wal-Mart should not be allowed into India.

There was also a strong united call on all corporations both foreign and domestic to 'Quit Retail,' timed to commemorate the start of the 'Quit India' movement that started in Mumbai on August 9, 1942.

Slamming the government's policy, the protesters drew parallels between the East India Company and the likes of Wal-Mart, Bharti and Reliance.

Along with Mumbai, the agitation also took place in Nagpur, Nasik and Pune.

Later in the evening, at Shanmukananda Hall in Mumbai, mass-based groups laid out a future course of action and adopted a charter of demands. They called on the Centre to immediately repeal the Wholesale Cash-n-Carry Act and all the licenses granted under the act; to repeal the APMC Model Act and implement the National Policy on Street Vendors along with measures against predatory pricing and formulating a national policy on retail trade and small scale industries.

UNI