Traders’ Body Holds Nationwide Protests; Demands Ban On Amazon, Flipkart
According to CAIT, the protesters demanded that the government impose an immediate ban on e-commerce portals of both companies.
Trade associations observed "National Protest Day" on Wednesday and held protest dharnas against "unethical trade practices" of leading e-commerce firms like Amazon and Flipkart in over 700 cities across the country, Confederation of All India Traders said.
The traders' body, which has been alleging that these e-commerce firms were adopting unethical trade practices and are openly violating the government's foreign direct investment policy, claimed the protests were attended by lakhs of traders.
"The demonstrating traders said India's e-commerce market has been made highly toxic by Amazon and Flipkart with their unethical trade practices and open violation of the government's FDI policy," the CAIT said.
According to the traders' body, the protesters demanded that the government impose an immediate ban on e-commerce portals of both Amazon and Flipkart. BC Bhartia, National President of CAIT said traders have no objection to Amazon and Flipkart conducting business in India, but like merchants, these e-commerce firms should also follow every provision of FDI policy of the government and other tax laws.
The traders' body demanded that Amazon and Flipkart be asked to shut their portals till the time these firms make their portals fully compliant with FDI policy and other laws. It has also sought a probe into the business model, accounts and inflow of foreign investment and its disbursal by both the companies.