Chennai: Accusing DMK of being anti-trader, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday said the rival party strategically divided traders “by using a few traders who favour it”. He said AIADMK, under J Jayalalithaa, opposed FDI in retail, while DMK supported it during a parliamentary vote, a move the trading community would not forget and forgive.
Addressing a meeting of Tamil Nadu Anaithu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu on 42nd Traders Day, the former chief minister expressed concerns about the safety of traders under the current dispensation.

He said traders were being attacked on their own business premises.
“There is a rise in attacks against traders by anti-socials whenever DMK is in office,” he said, pointing to media reports of attacks, robberies, and govt officials “intentionally” harassing traders during business hours under the guise of continuous inspections, and traders holding protests against the govt for lack of action in areas such as Kancheepuram.
Palaniswami urged the state govt to prioritise the security of small businesses and called for tax relief for local businesses struggling to compete with modern technological advancements. “If any deficiencies are found during the inspection conducted by the authorities while transporting goods in a truck, the traders complain that a fine equivalent to the total amount of goods in the truck or double the value of the goods is imposed. This should be avoided,” Palaniswami said, requesting govt to cease penalising traders during “test purchases” conducted by commercial tax staff.
He reiterated the need for traders across the state to remain united.
This unity, he argued, is crucial to prevent the entry of multinational companies into the retail sector and contain the dominance of corporations.