By IANS,
New Delhi : The DMK Tuesday opposed FDI in multi-brand retail but said it will vote along with the government as it did not want to trouble its ally the Congress.
DMK, which is part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, extended its support to the government, while saying that FDI in retail would be harmful for the large chunk of retail traders across the country.
“I am not telling this as an opponent, but telling this as your brother. I don’t want to put you (government) for a whole-body scan as opposition, but it (FDI in retail) is definitely not in interest of the trading community,” DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan said while participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on FDI in retail.
“Most of them (traders) are not working in big shops, they run their individual shops. He may not get much out of it but at least he can lead a reasonable life,” the DMK leader said.
He also questioned union minister Kapil Sibal’s statement that no one will go to Walmart even if it’s here.
“Kapil Sibal said Walmart failed in China, it will fail here. He said it will be situated outside the city, people will not go there, then why bring Walmart,” he questioned.
The DMK leader, however, added that his party was on the government’s side. “We stand by you because that is the need of the hour. We don’t want to let you down, we don’t want to join (Bharatiya Janata Party) BJP.”
“We were the first party to oppose FDI, but we don’t want to oppose you. We have done many good things for the country together, something may not be in favour of the country, but we don’t want to oppose you,” he said.