Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament and National General Secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAT), has demanded immediate and strict action against the increasing arbitrary practices and unfair trade practices of e-commerce and quick commerce companies. He mentioned that the activities of these companies are affecting the country's traditional trade structure and creating a serious crisis for small traders.
Khandelwal welcomed the passage of the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 by Parliament, describing it as a historic step under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote trust-based governance and ease of doing business. He stated that this would increase trust among traders and entrepreneurs and create a positive business environment in the country. However, he expressed concern that some e-commerce companies operating with foreign capital are disrupting India's trade balance.
More than 90 million traders in the country, who are a major foundation of the supply chain and employment, are being affected by these practices. He alleged that predatory pricing, excessive discounts, dark patterns, inventory-based models under the guise of marketplaces, preferential treatment for select vendors, and rapid expansion of dark stores are all trends that threaten fair competition and the existence of small and medium traders. Khandelwal clearly stated that such companies should not be allowed to act arbitrarily in India and emphasized the need to ensure equal opportunities between offline and online trade.
He urged the government to finalize the national e-commerce policy soon, implement strict and transparent rules, and establish an effective monitoring mechanism. Emphasizing institutional reforms, he highlighted the need for the formation of a National Retail Development Council to ensure proper representation of the trading community in policy-making. He stated that the participation of traders in business-related decisions is essential.
Pramod Bhagat, Chairman of CAT Gujarat, also supported this demand, stating that the formation of the National Retail Development Council would lead to more practical policies aligned with ground realities. He added that as India moves towards becoming a global economic power, it is crucial for development to be inclusive, fair, and balanced, as a strong and protected trade is the foundation of a strong India.
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