Hyderabad: As economic shifts continue in Telangana, Prof. Haragopal has raised concerns about the unrest among small traders and artisans, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. He spoke about how new development models are affecting locals with limited capital, hitting their economic stability hard.
The arrival of large trading communities in smaller towns is worrying traditional business families. Prof. Haragopal pointed out that while the Telangana movement never targeted business groups, today’s issues arise from economic changes rather than regional identity. He stated, “During the Telangana movement, we didn’t claim businesses weren’t ours. Now, expanding capital threatens small livelihoods.”
Traditional jobs like goldsmithing, weaving, and small retailing face growing challenges. Large business groups are buying small shops, displacing families who have worked in these trades for generations. “For many goldsmiths and weavers, these skills are all they know. If displaced, it affects hundreds,” he warned.
When asked about the slogans against Marwaris or Gujaratis, Haragopal dismissed them, urging people not to see these tensions as community conflicts. “It’s not about Marwaris or Gujaratis. It’s about big capital overtaking small capital,” he explained.
He traced policy changes back to the repeal of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act in 2002, which led to competition laws favoring large industries. This left small traders at a disadvantage against corporate competition.
Haragopal also noted that big capital holders, aligned with RSS and BJP ideologies, are expanding into rural areas, adding a new socio-political angle. “As investments grow, small businesses need protection,” he said, urging government intervention. “We must propose measures to protect traditional jobs to prevent our villages from falling apart.”
Prof. Haragopal concluded by urging policymakers to balance growth with inclusivity, warning that unchecked expansion of big capital could deepen inequalities and destroy long-standing livelihoods. Small capital holders cannot compete with new market entrants in Telangana’s rural areas.
