Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: Retail businesses will shut operations in the State tomorrow with traders deciding to join the nationwide protest against the Union Cabinet approval to 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector.

In view of the protests, businesses at retail shops, malgodowns will remain closed.

Sudhakar Panda, President of Odisha Chapter of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) informed that around 6.35 crore retailers from across the country will join the strike to showcase their protests against the Centre’s decision to allow FDI in the Indian market. The Central government had earlier assured that it would not give permission to FDI in retail business. However, for reasons unknown, it has granted 100 percent foreign investment.

The retailers have raised as many as 12 demands including repeal of the permission for FDI in the retail sector.

A memorandum containing all the demands will be sent for the reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Panda said.

On the other hand, pharmacists will also shut down their business tomorrow in view of the nationwide day-long cease work strike called against the Centre’s decision to allow operation of e-pharmacies.

Around 22,000 pharmacies from across the State will remain closed due to the strike. However, chemist shops present inside medical colleges and government hospitals will remain open.

“The bandh is being called to ensure safety of the people because approval to e-pharmacy is a blunder as it questions the genuineness of the medicines through online,” said P Satyanarayan, president of Utkal Chemist and Druggist Association.

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