It is most unfortunate and regrettable that several States in the country have signed MoU with Amazon despite that Amazon is a known global law offender and has been penalised in different countries for its mal-practices in business. The company is continuously violating Indian laws and rules and also facing investigation by Enforcement Directorate and Competition Commission of India. Such MoUs are strongly contradicting “Atmnirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local” campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). CAIT said that it is sending letters to Chief Ministers of all such States and its delegations are also meeting them. It will be followed by State-wide protests in all the States in support of its demands.

 

CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal strongly condemned such colonial mindset attitude of the State Governments. MP Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra in past few days had admitted involvement of Amazon in Ganja Supply racket and therefore at the first instance, the MP Government should immediately cancel all its MoUs with Amazon. Any link with a law breaker and a culprit company will cast reflections on working of MP Government, CAIT added. Bhartia and Khandelwal said that in March 2021 Amazon had announced the launch of Mrignayani MP Government Emporium on its marketplace. It was also said that Amazon will provide an opportunity to over 5,000 weavers from Madhya Pradesh, offering specialized products from their region to customers, and also positively impact their lives and businesses and Sant Ravidas Madhya Pradesh Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation will sell its handicrafts and handloom products on Amazon.

 

The MP Government should advise it’s agencies to disassociate themselves from Amazon, CAIT observed. To forge skilling and promotion of entrepreneurship and digital governance in the State, collaboration in Amazon Saheli Group, ventured into the e-commerce space with Amazon for various products of Government bodies, engaged in so called skill and digitally enable artisan and weaver and other communities, training and onbarding of MSMEs etc. The CAIT alleged that though several arrangements were made by a large number of states but nothing concrete has taken shape so far on the ground level. Amazon as usual in a very clandestine manner obtained much valued data. Bhartia and Khandelwal also said that Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal etc. have made various agreements with Amazon.