'MNCs' entry in retail would lead to suicides by smalltraders'

Coimbatore, Aug 8 (agency report): Allowing MNCs and big corporates
in retail trade would lead to large-scale suicides of small
traders, as witnessed in the farming sector, the CPI(ML)
alleged today.
"The entry of such big players is part of the 'anti-poor'
policy being adopted by the UPA government at the Centre,"
CPI(ML) national general secretary, Jaikumar told reporters
at a press meet here .
Nearly 1.2 crore small traders and crores of common people
depending on traders would be adversely affected by entry of
players like Walmart, Spencers and also Reliance, Tatas and
Mittals, he said.
Big players like Walmart had caused 'heavy damage' not only
in developing countries, but also in the USA, where 18 lakh
small traders had to close down their shutters, he claimed.
The unity and large-scale protests by those opposed to
MNCs and small traders had prevented the entry of Walmart in
New York, Jaikumar said.
"However, the coming together of Bharti and Walmart in
India will result in the end of small traders, which will
directly and indirectly affect the common man," he said.
Stating that these MNCs would soon enter the farming sector
by retailing in fruits and vegetables, he said that they would
resort to buying lakhs of acres and dominate the sector in the
near future, killing the agriculture sector gradually.
He also opposed the 1 2 3 Pact between India and USA.