By IANS,
Agartala : All shops, business establishments and markets were shut in Left-ruled Tripura Thursday as traders observed a 12-hour strike to protest the central government’s decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.
The dawn-to-dusk strike was a part of the all-India agitation called by the Confederation of All India Traders.
The ruling Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist, supported the strike, which severely affected life across the state.
“The shutdown was total. All the wholesale and retail markets were closed as the traders and businessmen took part in the strike spontaneously,” said All Tripura Merchants’ Association organising secretary Sujit Roy.
He told reporters here: “At any cost, the traders with the support of the people of all sections would have to oppose the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government’s decision to allow 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and 100 percent in single brand retail.”
The Left Front government in Tripura also urged the UPA government to revoke its decision to allow foreign equity in retail.
According Tripura Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manik Dey, the state government’s decision was communicated to the UPA government Thursday by the state’s Chief Secretary S.K. Panda.
He told reporters: “If the UPA government allows FDI in retail, the livelihood of over 22 crore small traders and people would be directly hit.”
“The UPA government in 2009 had sought views of all state governments regarding whether to allow foreign equity in retail business in India. The Tripura government that time too opposed the move,” said Dey, a CPI-M leader.