Hard-selling protest

Talk of innovation and we have the Confederation of All India Traders coming up with innovative techniques to protest against foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. It has decided to observe March as “retail democracy month” and an elaborate programme has been drawn up. On the eve of Holi, members of the association will burn effigies representing FDI across the country. “We will follow the rituals and burn the effigy using all the mantras,” said the association’s secretary general. On March 16, the day of the Budget, there’s a nationwide sit-in protest planned. On March 23, they will do the rounds of markets using drums and temple bells to publicise their cause. On March 30, the last working day of the financial year, they will round off the protest with “Gandhigiri”. “You will see traders begging on the streets, polishing shoes, and washing dishes to protest against FDI,” he said. Given the recent showing of the Congress, the main backer of the FDI proposal, in the Assembly polls, they might not have to bother with any of this.