India FDI Watch called for a day of action on February 22nd to oppose the arrival of Michael Duke, Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart, in India. Duke visited India to put final plans on the joint venture deal between Wal-Mart and Sunil Bharti Mittal. India FDI Watch along with campaign partners organized actions and events in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
In Mumbai campaign leaders came together for a joint press conference and platform against the “back-door” entry of Wal-Mart and called on the government to oppose the deal. In Delhi, protesters led by the CPI (M) burned staged a militant protest at the steps of Parliament, breaking through police barricades and burning effigies of Wal-Mart. Over 300 protesters participated in the action. In Bangalore, groups protested at Gandhi Statue on MG Road, a central location in the city, and organized a press conference.
The February 22nd, Call for Action came in the context of a letter written by Sonia Gandhi, President of Congress Party, cautioning the UPA government’s rush to open the market to Wal-Mart and other organized retail chains. She called on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to fully examine the impact that FDI in Retail and growth of corporate retail chains will have on the livelihoods of millions of retailers.
The 22nd Call for Action succeeded in intensifying the protest against Wal-Mart’s entry into India and furthering political and public debate and opposition against the opening of FDI in Retail and growth of corporate retail chains.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment