IndiaRetailBiz

Things are becoming more and more ominous for organised retailers as protests against them grow from strident to violent.

Traders in Kerala under auspices of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES), a leading traders’ body, are getting ready to launch an agitation and if necessary an ‘armed struggle,’ to prevent entry of MNCs and big Indian companies in retail sector, reports PTI.

Founded in 1980, for the welfare of businessmen and industrialists in Kerala, KVVES has today grown to become the largest single organisation of Traders and Industrialists in the world, with over 20 lakh members.

Apart from shattering the economy of the state and sharp rise in prices, this would lead to lakhs of them becoming jobless. About 20 lakh people are directly employed in the trading business, while 60 lakh more are dependent on them.

“We will not allow retail shopping malls, being set up by multi-nationals and big Indian companies in the state, and have planned to go on a state-wide protest, including an armed struggle if necessary, from August 1,” said T Naseeruddin, VVES president to PTI.

Opposing foreign investment in the retail sector, he said 20 lakh people were directly employed in the sector in the state with another 60 lakh people dependent on them.

The ruling left front in the state has already decided to bring in a legislation to ban the entry of big business houses in the sector.