al Nath’s statement to liberalize FDI norms is a supplement that has been perfectly matched with ceiling.”

In his statement, Vijay Singh, leader of Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, observed, “How can the government propose such a move when retail employs such a large number of people, including a major chunk of uneducated masses who find it easy to open a kirana store and operate? They have not considered them at all.”

Raising slogans against FDI in retail, Wal-Mart, Reliance and Bharati, protestors marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. The march was addressed by Sardar Si

HAWKERS, STREET VENDORS and social activists have intensified their protest against the government’s decision to open up the retail sector for foreign direct investment (FDI). In a protest march held earlier this month under the banner of India FDI Watch, hundreds of protesters marched to Parliament to warn the UPA government on fallouts of allowing FDI in the retail sector.

The issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail has gathered fresh momentum among small and marginal traders and trade bodies, following a recent statement by union commerce minster Kamal Nath, indicating that FDI norms in the retail sector may be further liberalized.

The retailers fear that entry of foreign retail players in this sector would directly impact the livelihood of approximately 40 million people who are dependent upon retail trade. The deep pockets of the foreigner retailers would lead to their large-scale displacement and unemployment, they fear. FDI would allow foreign companies to tie up with Indian firms, who, given the quantum of allowed investment, would be minor stakeholders. They are particularly irked by the government’s inclination to allow FDI in real estate for the construction of shopping malls. “India is seen as the next frontier of global capitalist expansion, as can be witnessed daily in media reports and in the unprecedented rate and aggression by which government policies and laws are changing and corporate power is rising,’’ a keynote speaker said at the rally.

Addressing the rally, India FDI Watch Campaign Organizer, Dharmendra Kumar said, “Foreign and domestic retail giants like Wal-Mart and Reliance have developed a nexus with the UPA government to open big malls.” Ha warned that it will lead to their monopoly and threaten the livelihood of 4.5 crore Indian people employed in the retail sector. “Multinational and domestic corporate interests are dictating the UPA government’s economic policies,” he alleged.

“Worldwide anti-worker, anti-community practices of foreign retailers like Wal-Mart,” he said, “are examples for India not to allow FDI in retail.”

Sardar Singh Kochar, general secretary, Urban Street Vendors Redi Pattri Hawkers Federation said, “Local traders will not tolerate any injustice on this issue. I even fear that the ceiling drive in Delhi is a part of bigger game plan to pave the way for FDI in retail. Kamal Nath’s statement to liberalize FDI norms is a supplement that has been perfectly matched with ceiling.”

In his statement, Vijay Singh, leader of Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, observed, “How can the government propose such a move when retail employs such a large number of people, including a major chunk of uneducated masses who find it easy to open a kirana store and operate? They have not considered them at all.”

Raising slogans against FDI in retail, Wal-Mart, Reliance and Bharati, protestors marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. The march was addressed by Sardar Sin

FDI norms in the retail sector may be further liberalized.

The retailers fear that entry of foreign retail players in this sector would directly impact the livelihood of approximately 40 million people who are dependent upon retail trade. The deep pockets of the foreigner retailers would lead to their large-scale displacement and unemployment, they fear. FDI would allow foreign companies to tie up with Indian firms, who, given the quantum of allowed investment, would be minor stakeholders. They are particularly irked by the government’s inclination to allow FDI in real estate for the construction of shopping malls. “India is seen as the next frontier of global capitalist expansion, as can be witnessed daily in media reports and in the unprecedented rate and aggression by which government policies and laws are changing and corporate power is rising,’’ a keynote speaker said at the rally.

Addressing the rally, India FDI Watch Campaign Organizer, Dharmendra Kumar said, “Foreign and domestic retail giants like Wal-Mart and Reliance have developed a nexus with the UPA government to open big malls.” Ha warned that it will lead to their monopoly and threaten the livelihood of 4.5 crore Indian people employed in the retail sector. “Multinational and domestic corporate interests are dictating the UPA government’s economic policies,” he alleged.

“Worldwide anti-worker, anti-community practices of foreign retailers like Wal-Mart,” he said, “are examples for India not to allow FDI in retail.”

Sardar Singh Kochar, general secretary, Urban Street Vendors Redi Pattri Hawkers Federation said, “Local traders will not tolerate any injustice on this issue. I even fear that the ceiling drive in Delhi is a part of bigger game plan to pave the way for FDI in retail. Kamal Nath’s statement to liberalize FDI norms is a supplement that has been perfectly matched with ceiling.”

In his statement, Vijay Singh, leader of Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, observed, “How can the government propose such a move when retail employs such a large number of people, including a major chunk of uneducated masses who find it easy to open a kirana store and operate? They have not considered them at all.”

Raising slogans against FDI in retail, Wal-Mart, Reliance and Bharati, protestors marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. The march was addressed by Sardar Si

truction of shopping malls. “India is seen as the next frontier of global capitalist expansion, as can be witnessed daily in media reports and in the unprecedented rate and aggression by which government policies and laws are changing and corporate power is rising,’’ a keynote speaker said at the rally.

Addressing the rally, India FDI Watch Campaign Organizer, Dharmendra Kumar said, “Foreign and domestic retail giants like Wal-Mart and Reliance have developed a nexus with the UPA government to open big malls.” Ha warned that it will lead to their monopoly and threaten the livelihood of 4.5 crore Indian people employed in the retail sector. “Multinational and domestic corporate interests are dictating the UPA government’s economic policies,” he alleged.

“Worldwide anti-worker, anti-community practices of foreign retailers like Wal-Mart,” he said, “are examples for India not to allow FDI in retail.”

Sardar Singh Kochar, general secretary, Urban Street Vendors Redi Pattri Hawkers Federation said, “Local traders will not tolerate any injustice on this issue. I even fear that the ceiling drive in Delhi is a part of bigger game plan to pave the way for FDI in retail. Kamal Nath’s statement to liberalize FDI norms is a supplement that has been perfectly matched with ceiling.”

In his statement, Vijay Singh, leader of Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, observed, “How can the government propose such a move when retail employs such a large number of people, including a major chunk of uneducated masses who find it easy to open a kirana store and operate? They have not considered them at all.”

Raising slogans against FDI in retail, Wal-Mart, Reliance and Bharati, protestors marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. The march was addressed by Sardar Si

crore Indian people employed in the retail sector. “Multinational and domestic corporate interests are dictating the UPA government’s economic policies,” he alleged.

“Worldwide anti-worker, anti-community practices of foreign retailers like Wal-Mart,” he said, “are examples for India not to allow FDI in retail.”

Sardar Singh Kochar, general secretary, Urban Street Vendors Redi Pattri Hawkers Federation said, “Local traders will not tolerate any injustice on this issue. I even fear that the ceiling drive in Delhi is a part of bigger game plan to pave the way for FDI in retail. Kamal Nath’s statement to liberalize FDI norms is a supplement that has been perfectly matched with ceiling.”

In his statement, Vijay Singh, leader of Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, observed, “How can the government propose such a move when retail employs such a large number of people, including a major chunk of uneducated masses who find it easy to open a kirana store and operate? They have not considered them at all.”

Raising slogans against FDI in retail, Wal-Mart, Reliance and Bharati, protestors marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. The march was addressed by Sardar Si

al Nath’s statement to liberalize FDI norms is a supplement that has been perfectly matched with ceiling.”

In his statement, Vijay Singh, leader of Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, observed, “How can the government propose such a move when retail employs such a large number of people, including a major chunk of uneducated masses who find it easy to open a kirana store and operate? They have not considered them at all.”

Raising slogans against FDI in retail, Wal-Mart, Reliance and Bharati, protestors marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. The march was addressed by Sardar Singh Kochar, general secretary, Urban Street Vendors Redi Pattri Hawkers Federation, Vijay Singh, leader, Hawkers Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, Arjun Singh, general secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Pawan Putra Indraprastha Redi Patri Theli, Dharmendra Kumar, campaign organizer, India FDI Watch, Rajesh Jaiswal, general secretary, Harit Recyclers Association, Dineshwar Tiwari, member, governing body, Hemlata, general secretary, Asangathit Shramik Panchayat and Prem Bahukhandi of Centre for Advancement of Village Economy (CAVE).

This protest march brought hawkers, street vendors and social activists on a common platform. The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the prime minister and the commerce minister.