Merchants to down shutters on October 3

Merchants organised under the banner of the Kerala Vyapari Vyvasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) will go on a strike on October 3 in protest against the alleged harassment by officials and seeking changes in the law governing food safety.

T. Naziruddin, president of the samithi, in a statement here on Tuesday, alleged that though the Centre had postponed the enforcement of the provisions of the food safety Act, overzealous officials were persecuting merchants misusing its provisions.

Merchants would keep shops closed on October 3 and organise demonstrations in front of food safety offices at all district headquarters.

In capital

In Thiruvanathapuram, the demonstration would be in front of the office of the Commissioner for Food Safety.

The organisation appealed to the Union government to scrap the decision to allow 51 per cent foreign district investment (FDI) in the retail sector.