Movement to expand statewide and go national from September
Munish Sood
MANDI: A massive gathering under the banner of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch on Monday (August 11, 2025) voiced strong opposition to foreign online retail companies, calling for the protection of local trade and small businesses.
The event, organised in Mandi, drew participants from across the district, including Kotli, Sundernagar, Nerchowk, Gohar, Paddar, Panarsa Ratti, Rewalsar, Jogindernagar and Drang.
The meeting, held under the aegis of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and coordinated by the Swadeshi Research Institute Vimarsh, focused on the perceived threats posed by global e-commerce giants such as Walmart, Flipkart and Amazon to small shopkeepers and the local economy.
The movement’s state-level coordination is being spearheaded by Anupama Singh, state head of Vimarsh and a prominent leader of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. Her efforts have been credited with uniting trade representatives from various parts of Himachal Pradesh under a single cause.
The event saw the attendance of several notable personalities, including Jaswant Yadav, Poorn Kali, Sushma, Priyanka, Virendra Bhatt and several councillors from Mandi. Other dignitaries such as Raj Pathania, Mitra Dev and Deepti also joined the proceedings.
Concerns over market domination
Speakers at the event expressed deep concern over the long-term economic impact of foreign e-commerce players. They alleged that these companies initially attract customers through steep discounts, effectively capturing local markets and later increase prices arbitrarily.
“This predatory pricing model is systematically dismantling small businesses, eroding local employment opportunities and damaging the grassroots economy,” the speakers warned. They argued that without timely intervention, local traders would face irreversible losses.
From local protest to national movement
In a significant announcement, organisers declared that the protest will now escalate into a state-level convention, which will be followed by a nationwide campaign starting in September. The national campaign will be run simultaneously across all states, with the core message: “Adopt Swadeshi, Save Our Market.”
Organisers emphasised that this is not just a traders’ issue but a movement for farmers, consumers, and the wider community whose livelihoods are tied to a thriving local economy.
The debate over foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail has been a recurring flashpoint in India’s economic policy discussions. While global e-commerce platforms argue they provide wider choice and competitive pricing to consumers, critics claim that their aggressive discounting strategies and control over supply chains hurt small businesses and create monopolistic conditions.
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, affiliated with the larger swadeshi economic thought movement, has been at the forefront of campaigns advocating for indigenous production, self-reliance, and protection of traditional markets.
Organisers confirmed that the upcoming state convention will set the framework for the September national rollout. Plans include district-level rallies, consumer awareness drives, and legal consultations to push for stricter regulation of foreign e-commerce activities in India.
As the meeting concluded, the crowd reaffirmed their commitment to the cause, chanting slogans in favour of swadeshi products and vowing to strengthen the “local over global” trade narrative.
