RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.15: The wholesale market at Pandra in the Jharkhand capital wore a deserted look today as 800 shops remained closed in response to a call of indefinite strike given by the Federation of Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) to protest against the Jharkhand State Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Bill 2022.
As shops remained closed, over 1500 porters who depend on the earnings from the loading and unloading work passed an idle day and could not earn a single penny.
Also, the retailers in Jharkhand were heard discussing strategies to sell the items they had purchased to supply to common consumers and earn maximum benefit taking advantage of the situation.
“We will wait for five days. Once our stock remains limited, we will plan increasing prices to reduce the demand and ensure maximum benefit from the available stock to survive in the market,” Bablu Kumar, who deals in potatoes said.
Not only in Jharkhand capital, the same situation prevailed in all the districts across the state as 1.5 lakh businessmen associated with 28 agricultural markets across the state kept their shops closed to protest against the new law.
FJCCI president Kishore Mantri confirmed the situation saying the situation will become worse in days to come as the state government is reluctant to take back the law and justifying it saying it is the interest of farmers though it is draconian law that will only promote corruption and open the door of the state sponsored loot.
President of Ranchi Chamber of Commerce Sanjay Mahuri echoed Mantri saying we had observed one-day bandh on February 8 as well and after that we launched a series of agitations to ensure that the government listened to us but so far the government has shown its reluctance and taking our words for granted.
