Traders resort to novel protest against Reliance fresh

Bhubaneswar, Oct 2 (UNI) With their mouths covered by white cloth, hundreds of small traders and roadside vendors today sat on a dharna on Gandhi Jayanti day to oppose the entry opf Reliance Fresh shops in the state.

Carrying '' go back Reliance Fresh from Orissa'' placards, the traders came in a procession and sat on a dharna near the PMG square to lodge protest against the opening of the Reliance Fresh in the capital city.

Under the banner of the All Orissa Small Traders Associations and Roadside Vendors, the demonstrators pledged not to allow any Reliance Fresh outlets in the state and decided to intensify the agitation till the Company withdraws their plan.

Association President Pratap Sahu said the Reliance Fresh would deprive thousands of small traders and farmers from their livelihood and announced that they would also oppose the government's move to establish Wall Mart in the state.

The traders had in the past ransacked two Reliance Fresh outlets in the city and staged demonstration before another outlet,forcing the company to defer its plan to inaugurate a series of Reliance Fresh outlets in the city.

Besides, the small traders, hundreds of Anganwadi workers also staged a demonstration in the city on the Gandhi Jayanti Day demanding regularisation of their job and enhancement of their pay package.

UNI