The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) have called to suspend operations of Amazon & Flipkart in the country and restore only when they comply with the rules and law, Businessworld reported.
In a realeased joint report, they suggested introducing a luxury tax on high-end products sold on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, aming to create a more equitable playing field between online and offline retailers.
The report stated that this is a critical moment for India’s retail sector and any delay in addressing these issues may lead to irreversible damage to the country’s economy and retail ecosystem. In their white paper, CAIT and AIMRA proposed that there should be an immediate release of ecommerce rules under the Consumer Protection Act.
‘Immediately suspend business operations of Amazon & Flipkart and their allied companies and restore only when they comply with the rules and law. A robust policy framework is needed to close regulatory loopholes, ensuring fair competition and consumer protection,’ the report recommended.
The document emphasised that this is a crucial time for India’s retail sector, and any delay in addressing these issues could result in irreversible harm to the country’s economy and retail ecosystem. In their white paper, CAIT and AIMRA urged for the prompt release of e-commerce regulations under the Consumer Protection Act.
Praveen Khandelwal, MP for Chandni Chowk and Secretary General of CAIT, urged mobile trade leaders to take a stand against the unethical business practices of e-commerce giants. He emphasised that the time has come for the trading community to actively challenge their strategies aimed at dominating India’s retail sector.
The report also highlighted the need for a fast-track system to address consumer complaints, overseen by an ombudsman, to prevent deceptive practices and ensure timely interventions. Additionally, it proposed that discounting GST input credits for B2C e-commerce transactions would help reduce tax evasion and curb revenue losses.
‘Exclusive cashback is anti-competitive and encourages grey market operations. A ban would help restore market fairness. These sales, which often serve as a platform for manipulation and collusion, should be suspended until the identified issues and resolved,’ it added.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), established in 1990, has quickly risen to become the apex body representing India’s trading community at the national level.
Meanwhile, the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) serves as the leading organization for 1.5 million mobile retailers and is dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the interests of the sector.