CHENNAI: Following the call to boycott Pepsi and Coco-Cola soft drinks by two prominent traders association in the state, shopkeepers on the Marina too were asked by a prominent association of the beach vendors to stop accepting new stocks of the products by these two brands. Instead, the shopkeepers were encouraged to sell Indian brands of these products.
“We have instructed the shopkeepers to stop buying fresh stocks of brands like Pepsi and Coco-Cola and sell only whatever stocks are left with them. Since we have time till March 1 ( the deadline set by the traders association for the boycott), we can finish the stocks left with by then,” said P Prakash, president of Kamarajar Salai Manal Parappu Vyabarigal Sangam, an association of vendors on the beach.
The sentiment against these two brands was high during the jallikattu protests as they were seen as western brands that destroyed native industry and products.
Prakash said that after the jallikattu protests, most of the customers are refusing to buy these brands of multinational companies. “We thought we should also play our role as a responsible Tamilian. Hereafter, we will sell only Indian brands and promote them. We will sell Bovonto, lime juice, soda, butter milk, badam milk items and other such products,” added Prakash.
Though some shopkeepers told Express, they were instructed to close the shops until further word from the association, Prakash denied it and said they were free to open the shops and sell the leftover stocks. There is no compulsion for any and it’s their wish to sell or not, Prakash explained.
However, not many shops were open on the Marina beach on Thursday and it continued to wear a deserted look though the police were removing restrictions put around the beach after a gap of three days.