Vijyender Sharma
NEW DELHI---Being utterly dissatisfied with their gross neglect in last 65 years by political spectrum of the Country, the trading community of India for the first time in history is all set to convert itself into a Vote Bank and is poised to play a major and decision making role in forthcoming Parliamentary polls in India. Having an eye on the next elections, the traders have begun their drive to demand their participation in political system and policy making. In accordance with a unanimous resolution adopted at the National Convention of Trade Leaders held recently at New Delhi, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) apex body of the trading community of the Country has declared to launch a “National Campaign for Polarization of Traders” from 10th March to 10th May, 2014. Trade Leaders from about 1500 prominent Trade Associations from all over the Country participated in the Convention.
While addressing a Press Conference today at New Delhi the CAIT National Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal informed that Trader National Campaign will have three dimensions including Vote Must, Whispering Campaign and election of 50 Trader Friendly MPs to Loksabha in order to form a Traders Caucus in next Parliament. “We have seen that Vote Bank politics is getting momentum and such sections are always on the priority of political parties and the Government. Realizing this bitter truth of Indian polity, the business community has also decided to convert itself into a Vote Bank and in forthcoming elections, the traders shall be voting as a trader leaving aside their political affiliations"-said Khandelwal.
The Press Conference was also attended by CAIT Delhi Chairman Shri Narendra Madan and Delhi President Shri Ramesh Khanna, Delhi General Secretary Shri Vijay Pal, Patron Shri Sushil Goel, Shri Rajendra Gupta, National Secretary Shri Satender Jain and National Treasurer shri Vijay Budhiraja. Prominent Delhi trade leader Shri Gopal Goyal, Dev Raj Baweja, Ravinder Goyal, Vijay Gupta, Ramesh Kapoor and others also attended the Conference.
Beginning from 10th March, during the 60 days national campaign about 15 senior trade leaders of the Country including CAIT National President Mr. B. C. Bhartia and National Chairman Mr. Mahendra Shah shall be extensively touring the whole country to impress upon the traders to invariably exercise their Right to Vote and the traders will also encourage their family, relatives , employees and all persons connected with their business to Vote. About 20 thousand Trade Association from all over the Country are likely to participate in CAIT national campaign The whispering campaign shall be carried primarily between traders and their consumers in which though conversation traders will motivate the consumers to vote for right candidate and right party. Since on an average about 10 consumers do visit a shop per day, this campaign assumes much significance.
Despite of their magnificent contribution in national exchequer and an important role in Indian economy, the domestic trade in the Country has never been on priority. Policies were made for other sections but traders were deprived of any national trade policy. Lofty claims were made to simplify and rationalize the tax structure but on the contrary to it, the traders were subjected to plethora of tax and other laws and were loaded with great paper compliance. The Government is eager to provide subsidy to other sectors but no efforts were made to make available easy finance by banks to traders.The State Governments are imposing new taxes and new compliances to traders according to their whims on the other hand the Union Government is enforcing many Laws which do not have any rationale with ground realties. Through FDI in Retail and FDI in Retail in E Commerce, the Government is leaving no stone unturned in handing over domestic markets to multinational companies posing a great threat to survival of domestic trade and small industries.
Since all these issues can be dealt by the Parliament, the traders have decided to ensure success of at least 50 Trader Friendly Candidates. For this purpose, the CAIT will present its Traders National Charter to prominent leaders of all national and regional political parties and prominent candidates in each constituency to know their vocal opinion on the issues contained in the charter. The response of the political parties and that of Candidates will be evaluated with a sharp eye and in consultation with local trade associations and Observers appointed by the CAIT, the Core Committee will take its decision of support.
In its national campaign, the CAIT has decided to hold District and State level Conventions all over the Country which will be attended by traders of respective District and State. A Traders National Charter and a State Charter will be presented to leading Candidates in each Parliament Constituency and efforts will be made to obtain their unequivocal support. Jan Panchayat will be organized in commercial markets across the Country. On the other hand SMS, e mails and Cartoon art will be used at its optimum level. Traders will be joined with social media like facebook, twitter etc..
To conduct its nationwide campaign effectively, the CAIT has appointed Mr. A. M. Vikramraja, Chennai and Mr.Ghanshyam Bhati, Hyderabad for South India, Mr. Brij Mohan Agrawal, Rourkela and Mr. R. P. Khaitan, Raniganj for East India and North East States, Mr. Sanjay Patwari, Jhansi and Mr. Radhey Shyam Maheshwari, Bhopal for Central India, Mr. Ramesh Khanna, Delhi Mr. Harish Garg, Chandigarh for North India, Mr. Jayendra Tanna, Ahemadabad and Mr. Mahesh Bakhai, Mumbai, as Observers for West India and.
There are about 6 crore business establishments in retail trade which are providing employment to 25 crore people in the Country. As per a survey conducted by CAIT few months back the traders if polarized can influence result of at least 125 parliamentary seats in the Country. The CAIT also informed that it will also make attempts to join hands with prominent organisations of farmers, hawkers, transporters, small industries, consumers and other sections of the economy. However, the traders will mobilize support for their campaign in all 543 seats of Parliament in next elections.
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**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
Contact Number is 09736276343Mobile
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