Meerut traders want economic freedom from imperialist BJP: Akhilesh

Lucknow: Reaching out to the protesting traders of Meerut, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday described their agitation as an economic freedom movement’ akin to the 1857 uprising.“The traders of Meerut will rise against the imperialist BJP govt and their cronies,” he said.Hundreds of traders and their families in Meerut’s Central market are on an indefinite protest against Supreme Court sealing order for 859 residential properties. As most of these properties are being used for commercial purposes, the move has thrown businesses out of gear in the area.Striking a chord with the traders, Akhilesh said the BJP had earlier attempted to hit the farmers through land acquisition and “black farm laws”.“Now, the BJP was targeting trade and business at the instance of multinational corporates industrialists who give hefty donations to the BJP,” the former UP CM said.He said the BJP wants to ensure that the entire economy was controlled by a select few capitalists leaving no space for traditional traders.“Now, every trader, shopkeeper, factory owner and small and medium business owner has seen through BJP’s designs and are not ready to be taken for a ride. They are uniting against the BJP,” Akhilesh said adding that the policies of govt were aligned with the corporates than the welfare of small and medium businesses which serve as the backbone of a self-reliant Indian economy.He added that the bulldozers are not demolishing shops and houses but trampling India’s economic independence.“Govt action was an attempt to drag the traders and business class into economic slavery. Meerut has not forgotten its role in the 1857 uprising and would now lead to the beginning of the BJP’s decisive end,” he added.