New Delhi, April 18 (TIWN) The Congress on Saturday voiced concern over the government's decision to allow e-commerce companies to deliver non-essential items during the lockdown period, saying that it will break the backbone of the retail sector in the country. It demanded that there be a level playing field.

Addressing a press conference through video conferencing, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ajay Maken said, "As per the sixth economic census, retail trade is the most dominant economic activity outside agriculture."

He said that it factors more than 35.41 per cent of total economic activities outside agriculture, which is the largest.

He said that as far as employment is concerned it gives "one fifth" of the total employment in India as it generates employment for 2.72 crore people in India, second after manufacturing.

Highlighting the plight of the retail traders across the country, the former union minister said, "The traders have locked down their shops in last one month, even as the GST, demonetisation and e-commerce are breaking their backbone."