Retail chains face protest across country

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) Hundreds of small shopkeepers and hawkers today staged protest at various retail stores such as Reliance Fresh, Subhiksha and More across the country.

The protesters burned effigies of corporations namely Wal-Mart, Tesco, Reliance Fresh, Big Bazaar, Subhiksha, More, Spencers, Big Apple, Metro and Carrefour in the national capital, according to a statement.

Addressing the protesters, Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal General Secretary Vijay Prakash Jain said, ''The livelihood of retail traders are at stake. If big corporations like Wal-Mart and Reliance are allowed to enter into the retail trade, small traders and street vendors would be finished.'' Delhi Hawkers Welfare Association President Hakim Singh Rawat said, ''Corporate retail intent to hijack the whole supply chain from 'Farm to Folk' and establish monopoly by becoming producer, wholesaler, distributor and retailer and targets to dictate the market to fulfill their greed.'' However, Reliance spokesperson refused to comment on the protests.

Similar protest was also witnessed in Thrissur in Kerala, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, and Allahabad.

UNI MP SG RN1820