Maya shuts out big retail

Opposition to big retail grew stronger today with the government of UP, India's most populous state, ordering a statewide closure on all large-format retail stores.

This comes a day after stores run by Reliance Fresh and the RPG Group's Spencer's were attacked by members of the UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal, a trader organisation affiliated to the Samajwadi Party and headed by Rajya Sabha MP Banwari Lal Kanchal.

Addressing a Press conference soon after a cabinet meeting here today, Chief Minister Mayawati said the Bahujan Samaj Party government would permit new retail stores to open only after each proposal was examined.

The state government has also constituted a committee of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary Sashank Shekhar Singh to investigate Wednesday's attacks and study all aspects of the impact of organised retail chains.

The committee comprises secretaries of home, housing and agriculture and has been asked to furnish its report in a month.

Activists of the UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal ransacked two retail outlets of Reliance Fresh and several of Spencer's Daily in Lucknow and Varanasi. Reliance Fresh was to inaugurate 10 stores in the state capital and planned to open 14 in Varanasi on August 27.

Kanchal, who led the agitation in the state capital, said traders would not allow retail chains to function in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a Press conference here today, Kanchal said his organisation opposed all large retail chains, not just those of any particular group.

He added his agitation against the big retail companies would continue till they wound up their business from the state.

This is not the first time that big retail has drawn opposition from local traders and politician s. Earlier this year, Reliance Retail, in particular, had seen attacks on its stores in Ranchi, followed by Indore.

This week, a yet-to-be-opened Reliance outlet at Uttarpara, outside Kolkata, was also attacked, allegedly by Trinamool Congress and Forward Bloc supporters.