New Delhi, Apr 7 (KNN) The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has slammed e-tailers who have suspended operations during the lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

Terming the act condemnable, the traders' body, on Monday, said, ''in the current situation, where all stakeholders should actually assume responsibility and come forward to help the country, they have chosen to step back and sit on the fence because doing business during crisis hours does not seem profitable to them.”

Terming e-commerce companies as “fair weather friends”, the CAIT said they have gone into hibernation when they should be coming out to deliver essentials throughout the country.

CAIT lauded the role played by offline traders, the union said that nearly 1.25 crore traders of essential goods only around 25 per cent were able to operate on ground due to various restrictions.