By IANS
Bhopal : Hundreds of workers of Uma Bharati’s Bharatiya Janshakti Tuesday ransacked a Reliance Fresh store in the Indore town of Madhya Pradesh and warned of dire consequences if it was reopened.
“Several Bharatiya Janshakti activists barged into the Reliance Fresh store in the Tukoganj locality, pelted stones, broke the window panes and threw the store furniture and vegetables out on the road,” said a police official in Indore.
“None of the customers present in the store was hurt as they could go out from the back of the store.”
Trouble erupted in the afternoon when Bharatiya Janshakti workers found the Reliance Fresh store open despite having been locked by their leader Bharati Sunday. Carrying party flags, they assembled in hundreds and soon it was a free for all inside the store.
Two days ago, Bharati had led a protest against the opening of Reliance Fresh stores in Indore. She reached a company outlet with a basket of vegetables on her head and put a lock on it.
She said the entry of big companies into the retail trade of vegetables and fruits would not be tolerated at any cost as it would leave poor families unemployed.
Reliance Retail at present has eight stores in Indore and plans to open 24 more such outlets.
“Around 35 Bharatiya Janshakti workers have been arrested and security at all such outlets in the city have been increased,” Superintendent of Police Anshuman Yadav told IANS on phone.
Protests against Reliance Fresh stores are gaining momentum in Madhya Pradesh and several demonstrations have been held in places like Jabalpur, Gwalior and Bhopal.
While the Bharatiya Janshakti activists held demonstrations against the stores in Bhopal Monday, vegetable vendors here have been protesting them since the beginning of this month.