COVID-19 death: Guj fair price shop owners threaten strike

Ahmedabad, Apr 13 () Owners of fair price shopsunder Gujarat's public distribution system (PDS) on Mondaywarned of a strike if they and their staff are not giveninsurance cover against and protection from the coronavirusoutbreak.

Before an indefinite strike, all 17,500-odd fair priceshops will observe a shut down on April 19, said Gujarat FairPrice Shop Owners Association president Prahlad Modi.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a fairprice shop owner, identified as Bhargav Patni (27), dying ofcoronavirus infection in Vadodara's Nagarwada area on Sunday,leading to the entire locality being sealed off as it haswitnessed 80 COVID-19 cases.

"To mourn the death of an FPS owner of coronavirusinfection, we have decided to wear black clothes or blackribbons all through Monday. We have also decided to observe ashut down on April 19," said Modi.

"We are issuing an ultimatum to the state governmentthat we will go on an indefinite strike in the coming days ifshop owners and their employees are not given protectionagainst coronavirus, like masks and gloves. Just like shopowners, each of their employees must be given Rs 25 lakhinsurance cover," added Modi.

He said fair price shops and residences of owners andstaff must be sanitised twice a day.

Modi is the brother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PJT PDBNM BNM