Traders, hawkers protest against FDI in multi-brand retail

A section of traders and hawkers today staged protests in various parts of the country against the government's decision on FDI policy in multi-brand retail, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said.

Protesters raised slogans against the government's decision to open up the multi-brand retail sector for foreign investment.

Besides CAIT, Bhartiya Kisan Union, All India Motor Transport Welfare Association, National Hawkers Federation and several other organisations joined hands together to protest against the FDI in retail, CAIT said.

"Over 5 lakh traders and hawkers" today burnt effigies that had writings against the policy

besides placards taken out by them opposing the policy in "various states like Maharashtra and West Bengal", CAIT claimed.

The policy to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail has been put on hold by the government in the wake of strong objection from the Opposition and key UPA allies Trinamool Congress and DMK.

After that, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) started wider consultations with stakeholders, including farmers, consumers and the food processing industry.

Traders and opposition parties had said allowing foreign retailers like Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour in multi-brand retail in India would lead to loss of jobs for crores of people.

The confederation claimed it has a membership of over five crore traders across India.