CAIT leaders invoke divine power to strengthen nationwide movement against FDI in Retail

New Delhi, February 18, 2013: En- route to series of visit to various states to gather nationwide momentum to its “Massive Save Retail Democracy Rally” to be held on March 7 at Ramlila Maidan at New Delhi against FDI in Retail, senior leaders of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today sought blessings of divine power of Lord Shiva at his holy land at Deoghar in Jharkhand state by worshipping the holy “Jyotirling “of Lord Shiva and tying the “holy thread” which is considered most auspicious to attain success, as per general belief. The CAIT is not leaving any stone unturned to strengthen the traders and other retail stakeholders of the Country for the rally.
Speaking at a ‘trader’s conference’ of traders of Jharkhand at Deoghar held by Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industry , CAIT National Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal called the FDI in Retail as a struggle between Corporate Aristocracy v/s Retail Democracy and said that the March 7 Rally will declare in an unequivocal terms that while converting themselves into a vote bank, the retail stakeholders will campaign and vote against all such political parties who are supporting FDI in Retail. The rally is being organised by CAIT and Khudra FDI Virodhi Rashtriya Morcha, a joint coalition of different retail stakeholders.
Khandelwal while addressing the conference alleged that the Union Government has misled the Parliament and the nation on this issue by concealing the true facts and figures and even the State Governments have also been deprived of the real truth of FDI in Retail which is a serious issue and the states must take a cognizance of the same.

CAIT National Senior Vice President Brij Mohan Aggarwal, National Convener of CAIT Women Wing Seema Sethi, Ranjit Tibrewal, President, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yodender Poddar, President, Jharkhand Khudra Vyapari Sangh, and large number of traders attended the conference.
Khandelwal said that the Acts and Laws governing the Indian retail trade are being framed by those policy makers who have studied in foreign universities and are relying upon the reports and surveys conducted by foreign research Companies, in utter disregard of the ground realities of Indian retail trade and therefore they are more inclined to impose global retailers on the retail trade of India. It is a sinister nexus which needs to be taken to the task-said Khandelwal.

Citing the forthcoming assembly elections in the current year followed by Lok Sabha polls in next year as a ‘litmus test’ for the political parties of the country, Khandelwal said that since it is an admitted fact that vote bank plays an important role in Indian polity, the traders and other retail stakeholders have decided to convert themselves into a vote bank and they are destined to prove it. He also said that the Food Safety and Standards Act enforced by the Central Government  is nothing but an open invitation to foreign companies to capture the food supply chain of the country. The Act in question will promote "packed food culture" in the country which will prove much detrimental to the interests of existing food business operators. He called upon the Union Government to amend the said Act in consultation with traders.
CAIT Senior Vice President Brij Mohan Aggarwal informed that a special publicity campaign has been designed to highlight the ill effects of FDI in Retail which will be soon launched at New Delhi at a press conference. A unique “Cartoon Campaign” will be another instrument of protest whereas optimum use of social media like facebook and twitter will be made by the traders across the country. He also said that traders of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Bihar will attend the rally in large numbers and consultations are in progress within these four states as to how the four states can register an impressive collective presence at the rally.
Seema Sethi, National Convener of CAIT Women Entrepreneurs Organisation while addressing the traders said that as per an estimate about 1.5 crore women across the country are entrepreneurs and there is no such organisation who can raise their voice in an effective manner. The women entrepreneurs will also be badly affected with FDI in Retail trade and other Acts and Rules and therefore the women across the country shall also be participating in the rally with impressive numbers.  She said that the women entrepreneurs are no less than successful business person in comparison to their male counterparts and as such large number of women entrepreneurs from all over the country will be participating in the rally by taking a pledge of “ 7 March Ab Naaraa Hai- Bhavi Itihas Hamara Hai”.