More than 40 thousand trade associations across India will participate and hold nearly 1000 events across the country including protests, seminars, workshops, conferences etc till 14th March, 2023.
Mumbai, NFAPost: The Confederation of All India Traders ( CAIT) declared a war against unethical business practices and gross violation of rules and regulations by foreign funded ecommerce companies in India as the CAIT launched an aggressive national campaign “Swachh E Commerce Abhigyan” on Monday from Mumbai.
Addressing a well attended traders conference and later on a press conference at Mumbai, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal released a 5 point charter on e commerce which include immediate roll out of a robust and strong ecommerce policy, formation of a regulatory authority for ecommerce, immediate release of ecommerce rules under Consumer Protection Act, Issuance of a new Press Note in place of Press Note 2 of 2018 of FDI Retail Policy and simplification & rationalisation of GST taxation system and rolling out of National Retail Trade Policy.
CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal while addressing the media at Mumbai said that the CAIT has launched a 90 days nationwide movement today titled “Swachh E Commerce Abhigyan” under which more than 40 thousand trade associations across the Country will participate and hold nearly 1000 events across the Country including protests, seminars, workshops, conferences etc till 14th March, 2023.
“It will be concluded by a grand three days “ Rashtriya Vyapari Mahadhiveshan” at New Delhi on 15th, 16th and 17th March, 2023, which is expected to be attended by more than 10 thousand traders from all over the Country. From 19th December to 5th January , 2023, the CAIT will hold 22 trade conferences in support of their e commerce charter in 22 cities of different states,” said CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal.
The trade associations across the Country will undertake an “ e-mail” sending campaign to both Union & State Governments and all political parties demanding them to listen & understand the woes & sufferings of the trading community of the Country arising out of highly vitiated e commerce created by foreign e commerce companies.
Both CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that traders across the Country will observe 5th January as “ Liberate E Commerce Day” and trade association will hold “ Request Dharna” all over the Country urging central and state governments to accept and implement ecommerce Charter of the CAIT.
They further informed that a series of day long Hunger Strike will be held from 15th January to 22nd January by trade associations across the Country. Meanwhile trade associations in all states will take out rallies in their respective cities. The state level trade association will also meet chief ministers of all states and demand them to assist in rolling out the policy and the rules and immediately look into the business modules of these companies from the point of view of evasion of GST revenue.
CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal deeply regretted that despite of their dubious nature of business activities, several state governments have entered into MOU with these companies for various purposes which have been left behind but these companies have gained much data which is too a sovereign wealth.
“All such State Governments should immediately terminate their agreement with these companies. Traders of India have every hope from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has always championed the cause of small businesses not only to clean the e commerce trade of India from the vicious clutches of these companies but also to immediate release the e-commerce policy and consumer protection rules for e commerce. Meanwhile, all pending investigations against foreign funded e commerce companies should be intensified and strict action should be taken,” said CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal.
Since no action is taken against these foreign eportals for violation of rules & policy, CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal pointed out that they consider India as a banana republic and treat laws and rules as very weak.
Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture President Lalit Gandhi said that rolling out of e commerce policy and Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules are pending for last more than two years for one reason or the other which has given a free & open passage to these companies to destroy Indian retail trade .
He further said that trade verticals like mobile, FMCG, grocery, consumer durables, electronics, Foodgrain, gift items, luggage, readymade garments, cosmetics, fashion apparel’s etc have been badly hit by these foreign companies who are trying to become second edition of East India Company.
