Massive impact on essential goods and businesses was witnessed during the nationwide Bharat bandh called by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) protesting Walmart-Flipkart and direct Foreign Direct Investment in Retail (FDI) in retail; chemist association and transport association protest on the same day augmented the problem for the people.
The estimated loss during the single day protest in the state capital was around Rs 500 crores the figure inflated due to the protest of chemist association and transport association which coincidentally fall on the same day.
Earlier Chemist Association were scheduled to stage protest against the selling of medicines online while the All India truckers association joined the protest as it was in opposition of on-line shopping, direct FDI in retail and Walmart’s buying Flipkart. The Bhopal Mandi loss was around Rs 2 crore while if all the mandis of the state are considered the figure might be around Rs 400 crores.
The grocery market was hit by around Rs 100 crore during the bandh.
One of the most important parts of the business transport association came along to make the impact more severe and senior member of transport Thakurlal Rajput said that association supports retailers on the issue of protest against online shopping and direct FDI in retail.
The business on Friday was stalled in the support of the protest. The truck transport operation halted for the day which affected the business of around Rs 30 crore.
The retails protested in full strength and were firm to continue protest in future raising their demands for which the bandh was staged today.
Most of the markets in the state capital remained closed during the bandh.
Apart from other goods people were found facing issues in getting medicines for patients as the medical stores and wholesale market were closed. The estimated loss of Rs 10- Rs 15 crore was impacted.
The general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vyapar Mandal Mahasangh Anupam Agrawal said the grocery market was affected and business around Rs 100 crore was impacted. The protesting traders took out procession and raised slogans against the online shopping and direct FDI in retail.