CAIT launches new protests against Flipkart, Amazon

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Dec 13, 2019

The Confederation of All India Traders held its latest protest against US-owned Amazon and Flipkart in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on December 12 and asked the government not to “collude” with the businesses.

CAIT accused the Union Government of colluding with foreign-owned Amazon and Flipkart following reports that the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises plans to partner with the two businesses to on-board traders, Indo-Asian News Service reported. CAIT asked Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari to reject any proposal of allying with the businesses. 

"If the Ministry is so serious, let it create an independent e commerce portal and the traders of the country will support such initiative and will do every bit of it to onboard seven crore traders of the country on such e commerce portal," said CAIT in a statement, Indo-Asian News Service reported. 

CAIT also penned a letter to Gadkari on December 9 to warn against partnering with Flipkart and Amazon. On Thursday, CAIT also called Flipkart and Amazon’s business practices in India a “deep rooted conspiracy… to enter into crony capitalism under the garb of bringing in foreign investment which is being used for cash burning in maintaining predatory pricing and deep discounting, controlling inventory, having preferential seller system and exclusivity of products,” said CAIT.

CAIT plans to continue its protests into the new year and will launch a postcard campaign from December 15 where traders will send postcards to ministers requesting action. On December 27, CAIT will hold a one-day hunger strike.