The Forward Bloc's flurry of activity against the entry of private retailers in farm produce was prompted by the KMC's announcement last month that Reliance had emerged the highest bidder in an open tender for re-developing the Park Circus market in return for space to set up its own outlet.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had pointed out there is no law to prevent Reliance from entering the retail business. In fact, last year the government had cleared the entry of German wholesale major Metro AG for its "cash and carry" business aimed at institutional buyers, shop-owners and the like.

The marketing department's decision has also upset the trading community, which had so far supported the Forward Bloc's protests against big players in retail. Traders pointed out that anybody bringing farm produce into Kolkata already pays tax under the Regulated Markets Act. Mahesh Singhania of the Federation of West Bengal Traders Association said the community would oppose the Bloc's move. "Kolkata does not produce any agricultural commodity. Whatever comes in has already been taxed once. This will mean double taxation. Posta, Asia's largest market in commodities, will also be affected," Singhania said.