The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), representing around 80 million shopkeepers, has called on the Indian government to suspend the operations of Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart. The organization alleges that both e-commerce giants have violated local competition laws by favoring specific sellers and promoting certain listings, thereby disrupting fair market competition.
According to a report from Reuters, CAIT claims that these practices have created an uneven playing field for smaller retailers and shopkeepers in India, further exacerbating their struggles in the digital marketplace.
Praveen Khandelwal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has stated that he plans to meet with the federal government and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Khandelwal intends to discuss the issue in detail, advocating for swift government intervention, which could potentially include suspending the operations of both Amazon and Flipkart in India.
It is important to note that both Amazon and Flipkart have previously denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that their operations are fully compliant with Indian laws. Both companies have reiterated their commitment to supporting India’s retail ecosystem while abiding by the nation’s legal frameworks.