It is a matter of great regret that even after spending more than three years, the Central Government has not been able to bring e-commerce policy and e-commerce rules under Consumer Protection Act whereas the foreign e-commerce companies are bent upon in violating the law and the FDI policy quite openly under the nose of the Government and no action has been taken so far. Not only the Central Government but even the State Governments are bigger culprit since trade & commerce is a state subject and even after suffering huge losses of GST revenue at the hands of foreign e-commerce companies, the State Governments have becomes silent spectator and enjoying a sort of honeymoon with these companies by entering into different kinds of MOUs- said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today which is highly disgusted and depressed at the speed by which the things are going on which has led the CAIT to announce a three month national agitation across the Country from 1st January,2023 to 31st March,2023 on streamlining of e-commerce and simplification & rationalization of GST tax structure in the Country.
CAIT National President Mr. B.C.Bhartia & Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal said the business community of the Country is an ardent supporter and admirer of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who is always strongly advocating empowerment of local trade, ease of doing business, simplification of laws etc but it is highly regretted that the authorities are not heading to the mandate of the Prime Minister with the result that till date though there is e-commerce trade in the Country but there is no policy or rule. It is learnt that drafts of both e-commerce policy and rules under Consumer Protection are ready since a long time but getting bureaucratic dust. The CAIT will seek an audience with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Commerce Minister Shri Piyush Goel and BJP President Mr. J.P. Nadda to apprise the pain and agony of the trading community of the Country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bhartia & Mr. Khandelwal today announced a three month long national campaign ” Swachh Bhartiya Vyapar”. The CAIT has announced that from 1st January to 7th January, the trade associations all over the Country will undertake a “ national e-mail” campaign under bulk e-mails will be sent to both Union & State Governments and all political parties demanding them to listen & understand the woes & sufferings of the trading community of the Country arising out of highly vitiated e commerce created by foreign e commerce companies and much complex GST taxation system.
Both Mr Bhartia & Mr Khandelwal said that traders across the Country will observe 17th January as “ Liberate Trade from E Commerce Day” and trade association will hold “ Dharna” all over the Country urging Central & State Governments to accept and implement Traders Charter of the CAIT. The traders across the Country will observe a day long hunger on 20th January,2023 at more than 1000 places all over the Country. by trade associations across the Country. In the month of February, trade associations of all states will take out rallies in their respective cities and will submit memorandums to Chief Ministers and Finance Ministers of the State and Ministers in the Central Government. In the month of March State level Traders Conferences will be held in all States and a three days National Traders Conference will be held in first week of April,2023 at New Delhi.
Both Mr Bhartia & Mr Khandelwal deeply regretted that despite of their dubious nature of business activities, several State Governments have entered into MOU with these companies for various purposes which have been left behind but these companies have gained much data which is too a sovereign wealth. They demanded that all such State Governments should immediately terminate their agreement with these companies.
Mr Bhartia & Mr Khandelwal said that traders of India have every hope from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who has always championed the cause of small businesses not only to clean the e commerce trade of India from the vicious clutches of these companies but also to immediate release the e-commerce policy and consumer protection rules for e commerce. Meanwhile, all pending investigations against foreign funded e commerce companies should be intensified and strict action should be taken.
CAIT Traders charter include demand the Government to immediate roll out a robust & strong e-commerce policy, formation of a Regulatory Authority for E Commerce, immediate release of e-commerce rules under Consumer Protection Act, issuance of a new Press Note in place of Press Note 2 of 2018 of FDI Retail Policy, simplification & rationalisation of GST taxation system and rolling out of National Retail Trade Policy. The CAIT in association with thousands of trade associations across the Country has decided to continue with its strong aggressive campaign all over the Country against high handedness of foreign e-commerce companies and will not sit idle till the Government takes desired action.