This was announced by BUVM national president Shyam Bihari Mishra, an ex-MP, in an interaction with mediapersons after presiding over a meeting of the national executive committee of the BUVM along with the working committee members of Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM).

Asserting that FDI in retail would “lead the nation towards slavery”, he said the UPA government had been misguiding the country on the issue of FDI in retail. It would not only affect the retail sector but also the wholesale trade. Besides, the transport sector would also be hit.

Mishra said they would send 10 lakh postcards carrying a message against FDI in retail from across the country to the Prime Minister. This nationwide campaign had already started from Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the BUVM had decided to collect 10 lakh signatures of traders against FDI in retail. These signatures would be sent to the President.

He said they had also written to all MPs cutting across parties to support the traders’ community on the issue and support them for the cause in Parliament.

Regretting that the UPA government had been following policies of the other nations, the BUVM national president sought a ban on forward trading.

Replying to a question, he said Sunday’s meeting also discussed problems and difficulties being faced by the traders’ community in Punjab. He rejected the state government’s decision of introducing “e-TRIP” system and charging of processing fee. He asked the traders to impress upon the state government to refund their processing fee.

Mishra criticised the Punjab government for enhancing power tariff from back date.

He asked the traders’ community in Punjab to demand accidental insurance of Rs 5 lakh each for themselves from the state government on the pattern of UP.

Seeking pension for traders in all the states on the pattern of the Kerala government, he said Traders’ Welfare Boards should be set up for this purpose. He also urged the Union government to introduce Traders Credit Cards on the pattern of Kissan Credit Cards, so that a trader could get credit from banks after showing this card.