Bonded labours

The small trader community has displayed some remarkable innovation in its protests against the government decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail. One recent agitation had them wearing black strips of cloth over their mouths and handcuffing themselves to make the point that traders would be slaves of multinationals, who will control and dominate the retail trade. For good measure, they also depicted the government on a “ventilator”, sucking up the blood of traders. Who knows if their demands will be fulfilled, but they may get an award for the most hilarious protest in the capital.