Traders body threatens agitation over Walmart-Flipkart merger

Chennai: Federation of Traders' Association president T. Vellaiyan on Monday urged the Centre to stop the Walmart-Flipkart merger and threatened agitation if this is not done.

"When we raised protest against the Walmart plan to set up shops in Tamil Nadu during the Jayalalithaa regime, she ensured that Walmart was not permitted to do business in the state and thereby protected our business interests. If this Walmart-Flipkart coalition enters Tamil Nadu, it will finish off the small and medium sized traders," Vellaiyan, a popular leader among traders told reporters.

The US company initially wanted to enter into the state through its cluster but was shown the door and now under guise of investing in an Indian firm, they are entering through back door. Online trading by an Indian or any foreign company poses a serious threat to the local traders and we will protest against the foreign intrusion in the Indian trade, he said

The Centre and states should take steps to protect local traders and a large scale protest will be held if the government fails to address our plea, he said.

Another popular trade faction Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peramaippu (TNVSP) also warned the Centre of protests for staying quiet over the Walmart and Flipkart deal. "We protested when Walmart and Bharti Enterprises announced a tie-up and ensured that they did not set up shop in Tamil Nadu and now Walmart is trying a similar initiative," said S. Murugesan, a wholesale trader in Broadway.

"Both Vellaiyan and Vikramaraja have urged traders to protest against Walmart and we will protest shortly," he said.