Traders again threaten stir

PUNE, April 27: Wholesale traders and commission agents operating in all the Agricultural Produce Market Committees throughout the State have decided to go on indefinite strike from May 2 in the event the implementation of amended APMC Act is not stayed in all the market committees by April 30.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of traders and commission agents from all over Maharashtra convened by Poona Merchants Chamber here on Sunday. The meeting, constituted Krishi Utpanna Bazaar Samiti Maharashtra Rajya Vyapari Mahasangh, as a supreme union of all the wholesale traders and commission. Rajesh Shah, president Poona Merchants Chamber said the newly constituted Mahasangh will have representatives of wholesale traders from each district in the State. 8220;The primary task of the Mahasangh, having representation of Federation of Associations of Maharashtra FAM and Maharashtra Chambers, will be primarily to look into the problems faced by the traders and commission agents in the State.8221;

Shahsaid the union would press for increasing the number of traders8217; representatives in the market committees. 8220;The union has called for change in the present system of APMC functioning in which the traders representatives cannot contest the post of chairman and vice-chairman in the market committees,8221; said Poptal Ostwal of FAM who was present on the occasion.