Protest against Reliance Fresh in MP town

Jabalpur, Sep 5 (UNI) After recent protests in Bhopal and Indore and amid preparations for making an entry in this cantonment town in Madhya Pradesh, Reliance Fresh today faced opposition from vegetable and small vendors taking out a protest rally and going on strike.

Common man faced severe difficulties with wholesale traders and retail vendors of fruits and vegetables as they kept their businesses closed, in response to a call given by the Madhya Pradesh Fruit and Vegetable Vendors Federation (MPFVVF).

Small traders from various vegetable markets gathered at Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee's yard near Damohanka to express their solidarity.

MPFVVF's Shafi Bholu and Fruit Traders Association Chairman Ajit Sahu said a protest rally was taken out from the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee's yard to the Collectorate.

A memorandum was submitted to Collector Sanjay Dubey for Governor Balram Jakhar demanding preventing Reliance Fresh from entering Jabalpur. The memorandum demanded that a decision be taken in the interest of farmers and Reliance Fresh be closed in the state as has been done in Uttar Pradesh.

Stray incidents of violence and ransacking were reported during the protest rally. However, timely intervention by police prevented situation from going out of control.

In a statement issued here today, Bharatiya Janshakti (BJ) General Secretary Prahlad Patel extended support to the strike and said he was ready to play an active role in opposing Reliance Fresh.

He said BJ President Uma Bharti had expressed her opposition by writing a letter to Reliance Fresh. The party was ready to take part in the agitation if required.

Mr Patel said the BJ had decided to welcome big industries like Reliance in business such as communication, petroleum, power and products in the state. However, their entry in business related in items like vegetables and fruits that concerned with employment of poor would be opposed.

Congress leader Pravin Kushwah said he had submitted a memorandum to the government demanding ban on Reliance Fresh in the state.

UNI