In perhaps the largest show of strength against organised retail in the country, thousands of traders today came together demanding that corporate giants be banned from entering retail trade. Apparently targeting western-style food retail ventures by Reliance Fresh, Spencer’s and the entry of Wal-Mart through a joint venture with Bharti, the traders under the banner of Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) asked farmers not to fall for the corporates’ bait of remunerative prices for their produce.

FAM leaders claimed that once corporates establish their presence, farmers would no longer be able to get good prices.

Wednesday’s protest was the first large-scale demonstration in a metro.