MACCIA threatens to keep shops open despite Maha govt’s Covid rules

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Nearly 800 trade and industrial associations of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) warned that they will open all shops on April 12, 2021 and defy the Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the state government. However, news website Rediff said that other prominent bodies such as the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) will not be participating in this decision of the MACCIA.

On April 7, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting with various trade leaders and told attendees that the state government would consider their demands during Cabinet meetings.

Attendees such as FRTWA President Viren Shah told SabrangIndia that traders will wait until the state government announces a decision on April 14. Leaders hope that the administration will relax norms and allow shops to remain open on weekdays.

Earlier, the government issued state-wide restrictions such as closure of malls, multiplexes, markets and non-essential stores. Weekend lockdowns were also announced. However, this shutdown sparked huge uproar within the trade and hotel industries that foresee worsening economies if lockdowns persist.

Meanwhile, MACCIA Senior Vice President Lalit Gandhi told Rediff that members decided to keep stores open regardless of government decisions to avoid last year’s suffering. He mentioned that traders have already stocked goods for upcoming festivals and will incur huge losses if stores are not opened. He also stated that there is no “scientific basis for closing all commercial establishments.”

Others such as CAIT General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal said members will not defy state guidelines because it will be an “extreme and immature step to do so.”

On April 11, the state Press Information Bureau (PIB) declared 63,294 new coronavirus cases and 349 deaths. Citizens are advised not to casually leave the house, especially at night as the night curfew continues.