Traders to down shutters today

Heeding the call for a nationwide bundh against FDI in retail sector, traders said they would not conduct any business. Chickpet, where hundreds of shops are located, would be the most affected business district in Bangalore. BJP leader Lehar Singh Siroya said that the move to allow FDI had disappointed the traders a lot.

The bundh would be in force from 8 am to 6 pm. Meanwhile, the Bangalore Police said adequate security arrangements would be made to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, BJP workers staged a protest outside the Town Hall, demanding immediate withdrawal of the decision to allow FDI in retail business.

Jayanagar MLA B N Vijayakumar claimed that FDI in retail business would “kill people in villages and small-time traders”. The legislator took a dig at the multinational retail companies which, he said, were eager to get a share in India’s large and lucrative market pie.
He charged the Centre with allowing FDI in retail business “for the benefit of only a few”.

The party would appeal to the State Government not to allow big retail stores to set up shop in the State, Vijayakumar said. The party had called a countrywide bundh against FDI in retail.