Traders ransack Reliance Fresh outlets in Lucknow

The activists of a traders' organisation affiliated to the Samajwadi Party today ransacked two retail outlets of Reliance Fresh at Lucknow and Varanasi.

The outlets of Spencer's Daily were also attacked during the day-long protest by the traders' organisation against the entry of big companies in the retail sector in the state.

Interestingly, Reliance Fresh has opened its 10 outlets in the state capital today, while Spencer's was operating here for the past few months. According to the police, the activists ransacked Reliance Fresh outlet at Sujanpura-Alambagh and had locked the Spencer's Daily outlet at Aishbagh area in the state capital.

Similar protests were also reported from Shivala and Sigra area of Varanasi, where the Reliance outlet, which is yet to be opened, was ransacked by the members of a local traders' organisation.

Sources said mild force was used to disperse the protesters in both Lucknow and Varanasi, but no arrests had been made so far. In Varanasi, 14 Reliance Fresh outlets were slated for launch on August 27.

Rajya Sabha member of the Samajwadi Party and president of UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal, Banwari Lal Kanchal, who led the agitation in the state capital, said that the traders would not allow the retail chains to function in UP.

"'We are against the entry of Reliance and other big companies in the retail sector as it will directly affect about 40 million people in the state," he said.

The Samajwadi Party leader said the traders would intensify their agitation if the government continues to favour the big companies in the retail sector.

Meanwhile, Reliance Fresh sources said they would lodge an FIR against the traders for damaging the property and misbehaving with women customers at their stores. They said it was for the administration to provide security to the outlets.

Except for the one at Alambagh, the other nine outlets, which opened for customers today, operated smoothly.