By IANS,
New Delhi : The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Telugu Desam Party Thursday opposed the government’s decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, saying it will seriously impact a large section of the population working in unorganised retail trade.
Participating in the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the motion disapproving the government decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, Shashi Bhusan Behera of BJD said the government’s decision was “anti-national”.
He said the government had talked of evolving consensus on the contentious decision but seemed in a hurry.
Behera said the government decision will affect the future of 20 crore people connected directly and indirectly with the retail trade and it should not “push them to suicide”.
“We oppose … the government should rethink,” he said.
TDP member C.M. Ramesh said the United Progressive Alliance government talks of inclusive governance but gives “fruits to itself”.
Making his maiden speech, he said the government was rolling out the red carpet for multinational companies.
He claimed that international chains coming as a result of the FDI decision will wipe out local retail trade and create monopolies.
“It (FDI in multi-brand retail) will end up as foreign direct interference. Hence TDP is stoutly opposed to it lock, stock and barrel,” Ramesh said.