During the 72-hour shutdown, the chemists and pharmacists, including those which operate 24 hours, have threatened not to sell even "a single medicine tablet" to protest the alleged harassment by officials of the food and drugs administration (FDA)department.

According to Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association (RDCA) president Damji Palan, over 2,100 of their members have been at the receiving end of the FDA officials since the past three months when a drive against female foeticide was launched in a big way.