Uma Bharti attacks Reliance Fresh store in Bhopal

Bharatiya Janshakti Party Chief Uma Bharati led a protest rally here that attacked a Reliance Fresh shop in protest against the entry of multinational and corporate retail chains in the country.

Bhopal, Nov 23 : Bharatiya Janshakti Party Chief Uma Bharati led a protest rally here that attacked a Reliance Fresh shop in protest against the entry of multinational and corporate retail chains in the country.

Uma said such entities would wipe away the livelihoods of millions of small retailers and allied businesses.

"Do you know one person of this family has gifted his wife a jet costing 300 crore. If he had bought it with the money earned through noble work or hard work, we would have been proud of him, but if he does it by crushing the livelihood of small retailers, it is very shameful," Bharti said.

The opening up of the fragmented retail industry, which is dominated by family-run shops, has triggered opposition from some political parties and retail traders, who fear massive job losses.

Their demands include a total review of the policy, stating advantages to retail trade, economy and revenue with entry of corporate houses in retail and framing of a national policy on retail trade and small and medium industries.

Foreign multiple brand retailers in India are limited to cash-and-carry and franchise or license operations.

India has allowed foreign single-brand retailers to take up to 51 percent in a joint venture with a local firm, while multiple-brand retailers like Wal-Mart are limited to cash-and-carry, or wholesale, and franchise deals.

But the move has led to massive protests amid fears the retail giant will put family-run "mom and pop" stores out of business.

India's retail industry, valued at nearly 350 billion dollars, is forecast to double in size by 2015.

ANI