NDA Calls for Bharat Bandh on Sep 20 Against FDI in Retail

New Delhi, Sep 16 (PTI): BJP-led NDA will hold a nationwide protest on September 20 protesting against the central government's decision to hike diesel price and allow FDI in multi-brand retail.

Announcing the alliance's decision here, BJP leader LK Advani said "NDA on Saturday said decided to hold a nation-wide strike on 20th of this month. I am sure that the suffocation felt by the people for a long time is about to come to an end."

Addressing the press with Sushma Swaraj and other senior leaders of the coalition, he said "it would be prudent and wise for the government itself to decide that they do not wait till 2014 for the people to give their opinion about the UPA government. Let them call for an early election. Let the people make a decision."

Stating that the government should be allowed to rethink over all its acts, the BJP leader said "if they are able to do that on their own by giving resignation-- the Lok Sabha elections are also due shortly -- I think it will be fine."

He said no political party's consent was taken by the government before making these announcements.

"They have not consulted any political party and chief minister and have announced this suddenly. This is something which the country is not going to take lying down," Advani said.

He said NDA leaders have talked "informally" to other political parties and "I think the 20th September strike will be spontaneous and successful".

"This is the betrayal of Parliament, people and thousands of traders in the country," Advani alleged.

Traders body to support

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a nation-wide bandh on September 20, to protest against government's decision to operationalise 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.

"The CAIT and Bharat Udyog Vyapar Mandal have called for a Bharat Trade Bandh on September 20, in which majority of traders across the country would participate," CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said here today.

All shops will remain shut for a day, besides traders will also formulate their future strategy to protest against the government's move, he added.

Khandelwal said: "We want the government to roll-back its decision to implement FDI in multi-brand retail as it would adversely impact the traders."

The Cabinet, on Friday, decided to operationalise 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail but left it to the state governments to allow setting up of such stores.

In November last year, the government had approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand. This was, however, put on hold due to political opposition, including from UPA constituent Trinamool Congress.

Further, the CAIT said it has also appealled to various political parties to extend their support to Bharat Trade Bandh call.

"Traders will also meet chief ministers of various states to garner their support for the movement," Khandelwal said.

Further, he said, the government even did not consult the traders and other stakeholders of the retail trade before announcing its decision to liberalize the retail sector.

Traders and opposition parties had said allowing foreign retailers like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour in multi-brand retail in India would lead to loss of jobs for lakhs of people.

The confederation claimed it has a membership of over five crore traders across India.