NEW DELHI: In a move that could impact millions of households across India, traders and small businesses opposing the Walmart-Flipkart deal have threatened to go on a nationwide strike in the coming week.

Small and medium-sized businesses fear Walmart’s entry into India could reduce their earnings as the ‘Beast of Bentonville’ has been known to squeeze margins of businesses in order to offer the best price to consumers. Last month, Walmart picked up 77% of the Bengaluru-based company for around $16 billion, making it one of the biggest deals in the e-commerce industry globally.

Subsequently, Indian traders — consisting wholesalers, distributors and sellers on e-commerce platforms — left no stone unturned to criticise the US retailer’s entry into the Indian market.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an independent body that represents small businesses across India, secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said, “Since the last five years, we are knocking the doors of the government for bringing reforms into e-commerce. But all of that has gone to deaf ears, which encouraged Walmart to buy Flipkart and enter into retail trade indirectly.”

“The basic fundamentals of the deal are based on circumvention of the law with an underlying object to exploit, manipulate and control the retail sector, including e-commerce,” he added.

