Synopsis: On Tuesday, many building owners who have rented their buildings to Reliance Industries for the operation of its various businesses all across Punjab requested Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s intervention in reopening their stores, which have been under siege for several months by protesting farmers. Farmers in Punjab are opposing the Centre’s three farm laws by refusing to allow Reliance stores to operate.
The owners claim they are in a grave financial crisis and are on the verge of bankruptcy because they have not received any rental income for the previous 7-8 months owing to farmer protests at all Reliance retail locations.
The nine-month siege by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) of 20 Reliance Group outlets, mostly dealing in groceries, has resulted in food items worth thousands and thousands of rupees going to waste in Punjab.
With other Reliance outlets also unable to conduct business, commercial property owners are blaming farmers for their losses, claiming that they have not been paid rent in accordance with their lease agreements.
“The 275 retail outlets include 18 supermarkets, 150 smart points or medium-scale retail outlets, and a chain of apparel.
Farmer associations need to rethink their indefinite dharnas outside Reliance outlets,” According to Prabhnoor Singh Walia, who is the president of an association of building owners who have rented out their properties to Reliance Industries for the company’s operations in Punjab.
In Bathinda, the Walmart Best Price Store is also unable to operate. Scores of retaining company executives, retailers, transporters, and porters were laid off, according to sources in both establishments, as the unrest impacted the entire supply chain and earnings.
Even though there is no work, employees have been paid on a regular basis since October. However, the possibility of large-scale job losses cannot be ruled out.
“Wheat flour, oil, Suji, pulses, packed juices, and other range of edible products have crossed its best before use date or have simply rotted away. The company has no access to its outlets. Huge quantities had to be dumped at the waste sites in the last few months, with the help of municipal bodies.
No company would pay wages to employees indefinitely when its operations are forced to stop,” said an employee requesting anonymity.
According to corporate sources, Reliance has around 4,000 employees in its Punjab outlets/sources, whereas the Walmart Best Price store in Bathinda’s Bhucho employs about 300 people.
“Most of these employees are from Punjab and mainly come from farming families. After Adani Group’s decision to shut its dry port in Ludhiana due to prolonged farmers’ dharna, workers are worried about their future,” said senior officials of both companies on the condition of anonymity.
A spokeswoman for Reliance Industries declined to comment. Punjabis with non-agricultural investments, according to Prabhnoor Singh Walia, have a right to earn a living, which the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) should respect.
“Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws are not allowing Reliance stores to operate in Punjab, whereas other corporate retail chains are functional.
The farming sector is integral to Punjab, but other sectors cannot be ignored. Farmer unions should understand that it is the Punjabis and Punjab that will lose if the corporate sector chooses to stay away from investing in the state,” he said, adding a delegation will again meet the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leadership on the issue.
Sandeep Singh Brar, an officer on special duty to the Punjab Chief Minister who engaged with the disgruntled building owners, assured them of all possible support and pledged to bring the matter to the CM’s attention.
