Factionalism among traders has weakened their pressure group in Uttar Pradesh and diluted the vigour of their agitation against central and state governments’ trade and economic policies.
Understandably, it has therefore taken the sting off the proposed agitational programmes announced by various traders’ organisations against inflation, futures trading and issues concerning them.
Two prominent traders’ outfits UP Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal (UPUVPM) led by former MP Banwari Lal Kanchal and Akhil Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (ABUVM) led by Sandeep Bansal have announced separate agitational programmes.
While, UPUVPM has announced a state-wide bandh on February 2, the Bansal-led organisation has called for UP bandh on January 23, primarily against inflation.
“We have given a call for UP bandh on January 23 against futures trading, inflation and harassment of traders at the field level,” Bansal told Business Standard.
He informed that ABUVM members would also hand over memorandum to the Parliamentarians in their areas highlighting that futures trading was principally responsible for runaway inflation in the country.
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“Our affiliated bodies in other states will also hold demonstrations and torch light processions against inflation,” he added.
There are over 500,000 registered traders in UP, while unregistered petty traders are estimated at 10 million.
Meanwhile, Kanchal will lead the UPUVPM agitation against futures trading, inflation, organised retail and alleged hoarding by big retailers. “Our agitation is directed toward the Centre and not the state government,” he clarified.
Once a traders’ force to reckon with, UPUVPM had lost much of its sting, when Kanchal joined the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) last year.
The UPUVPM was instrumental in the withdrawal of Reliance Fresh operations in UP in August 2007.
Both Bansal and Kanchal had since then been expelled from the BSP.
Another traders’ body UP Adarsh Vyapar Mandal (UPAVM) will soon hold a meeting to chart its future course of strategy on issues of inflation and trade policies.
“Senior traders’ leaders of other outfits are eyeing berths in the Parliament rather than raking issues concerning the community. So, we have taken cudgels on behalf of traders,” UPAVM president Sanjay Gupta added.
A new outfit UP Sarva Samaj Vyapar Mandal has also sprouted and is opposing the January 23 bandh, saying it would adversely affect business.