After waiting for almost a year because of political resistance to its entry, Reliance Retail Ltd, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd, is set to launch its stores in West Bengal in about a month.
“We should be there, hopefully, in the next four weeks,” said Reliance Retail’s chief executive Raghu Pillai. “We’ll launch in Kolkata first.”
Reliance couldn’t launch its retail business in West Bengal last year because of resistance from the Forward Bloc, which is part of the ruling Left Front and controls the agriculture ministry. The Forward Bloc, which runs the state’s agricultural marketing board, wouldn’t let Reliance source farm products from rural wholesale markets.
In August, Forward Bloc supporters vandalized two outlets when Reliance tried to launch its retail business in the state. The Forward Bloc defended the action, saying Reliance’s entry would kill small retailers.
“We are doing a legitimate business, and there are so many others doing the same business. So why should people try to stop Reliance alone from entering Bengal. I appreciate there’s some anxiety, but such things happen all over the world. We’ll have to address it,” said Pillai.
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