The Bharatiya Janata Party has given a call for a "Traders' Bandh" on 1 December, in protest against the Centre's decision to allow 51% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, BJP State Unit President G Kishan Reddy said that the entry of foreign retail giants would affect the livelihood of thousands of small and medium level traders across the country.
He said small businessmen and traders like kirana merchants, milk vendors and owners of medical shops would be badly affected with the entry of retail giants.
Kishan Reddy said that the Centre's decision to allow 51% FDI into retail is aimed at benefitting corporates, and that the fate of small traders is not being taken into consideration.
He said that the BJP has decided to hold protests across the country, beginning with the Traders' Bandh on 1 December. He appealed to all traders and small business to participate in the proposed bandh.
Speaking about AP's drought, the BJP state-chief demanded that the Centre grant a Rs. 10,000 crore relief package for farmers in the state.
He alleged that neither the Centre nor the state government has extended any help to distressed farmers in the drought-affected areas.
He said that farmers have been suffering heavy losses due to unfavourable climatic conditions for the past several months, and that they are yet to receive relief from the government.
Kishan Reddy asked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to take an all-party delegation to New Delhi to seek the Centre's assistance for APs drought-hit farmers.
He also demanded that the government waive off the interest on loans, which was increased from 7% to 11% after they were rescheduled. (INN)