Date:14/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081459650300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Spell out stand on retail giants, Nazirudeen tells parties

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES) president T. Nazirudeen has asked leaders of major political parties in the State to spell out their stand on the entry of retail giants.

“Let CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Oommen Chandy publicly come out with their parties’ stands on the issue,” he said.

Mr. Nazirudeen and four others were arrested, and released, in Kozhikode on Sunday for allegedly damaging the outlet of the Birla Group-owned Fabmall. Mr. Nazirudeen claimed that the charges against him were framed and that the KVVES functionaries had only led the blockade of the Fabmall at Nadakkavu, which had opened on August 10.

He told The Hindu that retail traders staged protest demonstrations against the arrests at several places across the State, including Kochi, on Monday. The arrests had doubled the resolve of the KVVES to fight off the retail giants.

He said the KVVES was determined to go ahead with its campaign against the retail giants which would “deny the traders their livelihoods and hurt the consumers’ interests.”

The KVVES, said to be the largest association of retail traders in India, leads the campaign against Reliance, Birla and other retail giants.

Mr. Nazirudeen said that according to law, wholesalers cannot sell goods in retail. But this law was being violated and city corporations and municipalities were issuing licences to these retail giants to open outlets.

Mr. Nazirudeen wanted all the parties to take a strong and effective stand on the issue. He said that though certain parties had offered support to the campaign, the support was not being translated into action.