NEW DELHI — Retailers throughout India went on strike Thursday to protest the government’s decision to allow multibrand retailing.
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“Around five crore [50 million] traders belonging to 10,000 traders’ bodies across the country participated. Traders took out marches in commercial markets across the country,” said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
However, many shops remained open across the country.
Several markets here remained selectively open, indicating executives’ pragmatic approach to the whole problem of foreign retailers coming into the country and the maelstrom of protest surrounding the government’s decision.
The discussion, which has been taking place between opposition parties and the government in stormy debates in parliament, will continue on the streets, but is on hold at the government level as parliament has been adjourned until Wednesday.
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The winter session of parliament will continue until Dec. 22.
The parliament saw a continuation of slogan shouting and protest from the opposition parties and the session was adjourned over the issue of the increase in FDI in retail once again.
However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is maintaining his stand. He said that it was a decision taken by the Cabinet in a difficult environment and it will be difficult to go back.
Congress representatives have been citing the example of foreign direct investment in other industries and the fact that despite fears and protests against Indian chain store retailers, the shopkeepers have not suffered.