A joint meeting of the Prayag Chemist Association and the All India Industry Trade Board was held at Hotel Grand Continental, Civil Lines. The meeting was chaired by Lalu Mittal, District President of the Prayag Chemists Association and the All India Industry Trade Board, presided over the meeting, and Ravi Sharma, General Secretary, conducted the meeting. The AIOCD’s announcement of a Bharat Bandh on May 20, 2026, was discussed in detail. Gangapar President Rajendra Kesarwani Pappu said that by imposing a strike in protest against online trading, in a way we are getting online.
When drugstores are closed, customers will be forced to buy their medicines online. General Secretary Ravi Sharma said that online drug supply should have been opposed when it first began. Why wasn’t it opposed then? Now, online drug delivery has grown as deep as a banyan tree, with many corporate houses involved.
President Lalu Mittal said that today the country is grappling with a variety of crises. The war between the US and Iran has hit inflation, and the collapse of business has made it impossible to even cover shop expenses. Traders are already suffering from the online crisis. The country is facing numerous challenges in the current scenario, and imposing a lockdown at such a time would be tantamount to putting citizens and already distressed patients in danger.
The most pressing issues today that are significantly impacting our business are as follows…
1- Why was a 6 month time limit mandatory for replacement of expired medicine in the agreement made by AIOCD with IDMA and OPPI in the year 1999.
Why hasn’t the AIOCD launched any agitation or taken action in the interest of retail chemists to extend the agreement’s expiration date? And why hasn’t a new agreement been signed to date? Because the AIOCD has no concern with retailers’ problems. Retailers are only remembered when the AIOCD needs a protest, market closure, or boycott for its own selfish interests.
2- Retail drug dealers are suffering the most due to opening of drug stores in nursing homes and doctor clinics.
3. Isn’t the open sale of generic medicines at Jan Aushadhi Centres affecting our business? Why haven’t any guidelines been issued regarding this?
AIOCD, engrossed in its own selfish interests, wants to further its political interests by posing as the well-wisher of 12 lakh 50 thousand chemists of Uttar Pradesh and embroiling us in the online issue.
Through the Retailers Chemist and Druggist Association, we appeal to all chemists in the district to strongly oppose the closure on May 20, 2026. Our pharmaceutical business falls under the Essential Commodities Act. Rajendra Kesarwani said that if anyone tries to forcibly close your establishment, you should immediately call the police helpline number 112 while filming them and file a complaint.
Mainly Rajendra Kesarwani, District President Ganga Par, Animesh Agarwal, Metropolitan President, All India Industry Trade Board, Ajay Jaiswal, President Pafamau Trade Board, Shubham, Alok Kanojia Legal Advisor, Gopal ji, Rajmani, Santosh etc. many businessmen were present in the meeting.
