Keeping in view that in the country’s e-commerce business, the open violation of the laws of the country by the big foreign companies and the news rapidly spreading in the media in the last three days, that Amazon has bribed the government officials through its lawyers in India, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), and the trade leaders of more than 20 thousand trade organizations of the country today held massive Halla Bol exercise by handing over two memorandums in the name of Prime Minister to the District collectors of more than 500 districts of all the states. In the first memorandum it is demanded for immediate implementation of e-commerce rules under Consumer Protection Act and in the second memorandum the CAIT referred to news about alleged bribe given by the Amazon through its lawyers to Govt officials, it has demanded that a speedy CBI probe should be ordered for verifying the alleged allegations. It is to be known that CAIT is running a national campaign on e-commerce for a month from 15th September to 15th October for mass scale rigging in e-commerce business of India.
In Delhi the memorandum was given by CAIT to the Divisional Commissioner of Delhi Monika Priydarshini. On the other hand especially in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra & other states, the memorandums were given to the District collectors of different districts of all the states including Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh.
In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, CAIT has also demanded a forensic audit of Amazon’s financial documents that have been given to government departments over the years so that the issue of bribes to government officials through Amazon’s lawyers could be thrashed out. if the case of bribe giving is proved, then such officers and others should be given the harshest punishment and their names should also be made public.
CAIT’ National President BC Bhartia and Praveen Khandelwal, while strongly criticising the conduct of Amazon in past few years, said that the manner in which Amazon has deeply indulged in intentional violation of rules & laws pertaining to e commerce sector of the country and keeping high scale of rigging is very serious and needs to be condemned in its strongest sense wand it has painted India as a banana republic and have termed the Indian laws very weak and can be managed either way for its own gains, is a matter which needs utmost and urgent attention. It is a matter of fact that responsible authorities proved to be an utter failure and taking any action despite lodging several complaints. Even the strictures passed by Supreme Court & Karnataka and Delhi High Court were also set aside by the administration which is a serious matter. Keeping this fact into consideration and therefore a comprehensive investigation simultaneously by concerned Authorities including the Income Tax Department, Central and State GST Departments. CCI, Enforcement Directorate, SEBI and Ministry of Corporate Affairs so that the real truth comes out in public domain and stern action should be taken against the tainted officials & other persons. They said that the government will have to clarify whether foreign companies can be allowed to violate the laws and rules of the country or the government upholds the supremacy of the rules and laws of the country. The decision has to be taken by the Central government. The traders of the country will eagerly wait for the decision of the government.
Bhartia and Khandelwal also told that in view of the seriousness of this matter and to discuss the whole matter thresdbare, the CAT has convened an emergency meeting of its National Governing Council in Varanasi on 30th September and 1st September in which the country top leaders of all the states will participate and discuss all the steps taken by the government on e-commerce and decide the future strategy. The trade leaders can also consider the decision to close India business on this issue.
