Centre’s Move Clipping Online Retailers Discriminatory In Nature

The December 26 guideline restricting online biggies from offering discounts and exclusive deals has been flayed by The Hindustan Times in it editorial on Thursday. The paper maintained the decision was taken with an eye to please the small retailers ahead of the next year’s general elections and provide them with some feel good factor, especially after the GST came into force.

The guidelines border on discrimination in as much as not giving a level playing field to the retailers, big or small, online or offline from doing business in the country, the paper observed, noting that the “uncomfortable” relationship with the foreign and online was evident with the new set of guidelines.

“The country’s policy makers would rather do well to standardise rules for big retail, domestic and foreign, online and offline for the ultimate benefit of customers, fair value of producers and transparent and competitive ecosystem”, it asserted.