In what can be termed as a rather odd request, political outfit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) wants all e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal banned from the country. The reason for this demand is that are ‘killing domestic players in the Indian market.’ Also Read - Realme Narzo 20 series full specifications leaked ahead of September 21 launch

They have also included Indian-based e-commerce giants like Flipkart and Snapdeal, because these companies are heavily funded by international giants. Ashwani Mahajan, SJM (RSS wing) national convener, told The Indian Express, “We are of the opinion that FDI in e-commerce should be prohibited by law. Though we do not allow FDI in e-commerce sites, they circumvent the law to sell their product in the country. Even Indian e-commerce firms like Flipkart have turned to be foreign now with funding from outside. There is a lacuna in the law and this cannot be allowed. We have asked the Finance Minister to plug loopholes in the law. Also Read - Moto E7 Plus launch in India on September 23: All you need to know

Currently, FDI in e-commerce is not allowed, but FDI in the online marketplace model which links buyers to sellers is allowed. In the past couple of years, e-commerce players have attracted global investors due to the continual rise of online shopping in India. E-commerce rose to success after Flipkart and eventually other players began conducting flash sales, exclusive mobile phone launches and big sale days, attracting more eyeballs.

Due to this shift to online shopping by many buyers, offline shops faced tremendous pressure, and even threatened to go on strike. They also considered banning certain products from their shops to highlight the problems of predatory pricing.

Their explanation for giving high discount is that they are doing it in lieu of the data provided by customers. But ultimately, these foreign companies with deep pockets will destroy Indian retailers, Mahajan said.

The party is not only against FDI in retail, but also FDI in defence, insurance and other sectors as well. Mahajan said that the Finance Minister has not yet replied to their request for ban of these sites.

Flipkart is currently valued at $11 billion by raising $700 million in its latest round of funding. Snapdeal raised $627 million in October last year from international giants, while Amazon s Jeff Bezos announced $2billion funding for its India vertical.