The Hindu Business Line : Reliance Retail’s Delight stores face resistance from fishermen

Hyderabad, April 2 Reliance Retail is facing its first major challenge in Andhra Pradesh, with the fishermen threatening to intensify their agitation protesting against its non-vegetarian format.

The retail arm of Reliance Industries has opened six Delight outlets in the last few weeks. “We strongly protest the opening of their non-vegetarian retailing store. About 10,000 fishermen and workers in the twin cities will lose livelihood,” Mr Lellela Balakrishna, Secretary of the All India Fisheries and Fishermen Workers Federation (AIFFWF), told Business Line.

He said the federation would make it an issue in the ensuing by-polls (elections are due in 14 constituencies in Telengana following the resignation of Telengana Rashtra Samithi legislators) and ensuing civic polls to the Hyderabad corporation.

The fishermen community is one of the strong communities in the State capital with over 5.5 lakh population. The federation’s Andhra Pradesh wing has already organised dharnas in front of a couple of Reliance stores in the last few days.

Mr Balakrishna said that if organised players entered the non-vegetarian retailing, it would spell doom to the 60 lakh fishermen and workers who depend on fisheries along the 974 km coast line.

Memorandum

The association had submitted a memorandum to Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, appealing to him to stall their entry into non-vegetarian segment. The association is convening an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and prepare future course of action.

Keeping in mind the sensitivities of vegetarians, Reliance chose not to mix the vegetarian and non-vegetarian product offerings at one place. And hence, it launched the new format. But interestingly, they are located adjacent to the main Reliance Fresh outlet.

Sources said the Delight stores could also be opened as standalone stores. There could be 54 Delight stores in the twin cities alone.

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