By IANS,
New Delhi : Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal Wednesday opposed the government’s decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, saying it would lead to India becoming “slave” of the western countries.
Participating in the debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion against allowing FDI in retail, Badal said the government’s decision would hit the manufacturing sector.
She said the decision would also severely hit small traders.
“We will become slaves of the west. Our manufacturing sector will die,” she said.
Badal, whose speech was interrupted by some Congress members, said it was the government’s duty to build a storage infrastructure.
“Is building infrastructure the duty of the government or a foreign company?” she asked.
Congress member Partap Singh Bajwa referred to remarks made by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, the husband of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on FDI in retail.
“Do you not talk within the family?” he said, taking a dig at the SAD member.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal retorted by saying Bajwa was trying to impress party president Sonia Gandhi so that he could be appointed chief of Punjab’s Congress unit.