Right, Left to come together for bandh

Shunning their political differences, leaders from both Right and Left parties have agreed to join a common dais during the Bharat bandh on September 20 to oppose FDI in retail sector. 

According to sources, both Left and Right wing leaders like A B Bardhan (CPI), Sharad Yadav (JDU), Nitin Gadkari and Murli Manohar Joshi (BJP) will address a rally of retail traders at Jantar Mantar.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a Bharat Vyapar Bandh on September 20, coinciding with the bandh called by the NDA, the Left, SP, BSP, TDP and JDS. Around 10,000 trade organisations are likely join the bandh called by CAIT.  

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been a contentious issue for most political parties including the Left. The NDA has been accused of continuing with the liberalisation policies initiated by the Narasimha Rao government. They opened up many sectors during their regime. The Left Front government in West Bengal had been wooing foreign companies and the policy met with stiff opposition form within.  

Meanwhile, a delegation of retail traders, led by JDU supremo Sharad Yadav on Tuesday met President Pranab Mukherjee and urged him “to save the hawkers, traders and other sectors of retail trade from the clutches of MNC’s.”

Representatives of the National Hawkers Federation, Fruit & Vegetable Mahasangh and CAIT comprised the delegation. The delegation, in its memorandum, said FDI will affect over 22 crore people who depend on retail trade for their livelihood.

“About 70 crore poor people earning less than Rs 20 a day will also be hit badly as retail is the only sector which provides disguised employment,” said the memorandum. “The predatory pricing policy of MNCs will wipe out the competition,’’ it alleged.
“The President gave a patient hearing to the delegation,” Yadav later told reporters.