Jamshedpur: Suresh Sonthalia, National Joint Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), on Sunday called on the government to take immediate and stringent action against the increasing arbitrariness and unfair trade practices of e-commerce and quick-commerce companies.
Welcoming the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0
While welcoming the recently passed Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0, CAIT National Secretary General and Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal stated in Parliament that this step, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a historic initiative toward trust-based governance and ease of doing business. He noted that it would bolster confidence among the country’s traders and entrepreneurs, creating a positive business environment.
Grave Concerns Over Foreign E-Commerce Giants
However, Khandelwal expressed deep concern regarding certain foreign-funded e-commerce companies that are destabilizing India’s trading ecosystem. These entities pose a severe challenge to over 90 million traders who form the backbone of the nation’s supply chain and employment.
Suresh Sonthalia highlighted several predatory practices that threaten the existence of small and medium traders:
- Predatory Pricing & Deep Discounting: Artificial price lowering to eliminate competition.
- Dark Patterns: Manipulative user interfaces that trick consumers.
- Inventory-Based Models: Operating as sellers under the guise of “marketplaces.”
- Preferential Treatment: Giving undue priority to select large sellers.
- Aggressive Expansion of Dark Stores: Disrupting local neighborhood economies.
Demands for Institutional Reform
Sonthalia emphasized that ensuring a level playing field between offline and online trade is essential for India’s balanced and sustainable economic growth. To achieve this, CAIT has placed the following demands before the government:
- National E-Commerce Policy: Immediate finalization of the policy with strict, transparent rules.
- Monitoring Mechanism: Establishment of a robust enforcement system to curb irregularities.
- National Retail Development Council: The formation of a dedicated council to provide the trading community with structured representation in policy-making.
“Traders’ participation in business-related decisions is essential. The formation of the National Retail Development Council will make policies more practical, effective, and aligned with ground realities,” said Suresh Sonthalia.
CAIT Chairman Brijmohan Agarwal added that as India moves toward becoming a global economic powerhouse, it is imperative to ensure that growth is inclusive and fair. “A strong and protected trade sector is the foundation of a strong India,” he concluded.
