The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has decided to “drive out” corporate companies that are endangering the livelihood of small traders and artisans by opening up mega retail outlets.

Campaign
The party will launch a campaign later this week targeting Reliance and Heritage Foods outlets of vegetables, pharmaceuticals and so on. Heritage Foods is owned by the family of former AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

 “Corporatisation is being taken to extreme levels in the state which is threatening the livelihood of lakhs of small businesses,” said TRS Chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

He warned that if this “corporate take over of livelihoods” was not halted, there would be an epidemic of suicides by the affected people. Mr Rao particularly mentioned the plans of Reliance to open personal care salons which he said would put  hundreds of traditional barbers or nayi Brahmins out of business.

Urging the government not to permit the network of Reliance Salons to be set up, Mr Rao said, “Hair-cutting is the traditional occupation of the nayi Brahmins. They have been doing so for many years. We will not allow any corporate company to snap the symbiotic bond of the nayi and society,” he said. Rao demanded the government to also ban Reliance Fresh vegetable outlets.

Blame game
He charged Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy of continuing “with vigour” the “legacy of Chandrababu Naidu” of corporatising daily life.

“We will fight this trend. Telangana Rashtra Samiti  cadres would not only organize dharnas and protests but would use their muscle power to throw out corporate like Reliance and Heritage Foods just like UP Chief Minister Mayawati did,” Chandrasekhar Rao said.