The Hindu : National : NDA will oppose foreign investment in retail sector, says Fernandes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 22, 2005

National

National

NDA will oppose foreign investment in retail sector, says Fernandes

Staff Reporter

To raise issue in monsoon session

NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance convener, George Fernandes, on Thursday said the alliance would oppose the Congress-led Government's plans to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector.

"The NDA will raise the issue in the monsoon session of Parliament and strongly oppose any such initiative. We will take to the streets and organise protests across India against it," he said.

Addressing a day-long all-India convention organised by the SJM, he said over four-crore families were involved in retail trade in the country and allowing FDI in this sector would not only render them jobless but also cause starvation. "Ironically, instead of creating more job opportunities, the UPA Government is working towards aggravating the problem of unemployment," he said.

Stating that the Left parties were also to blame for anti-people and anti-trade policies, the Samata Party leader said the Communists supporting the Union Government had two faces — one was for the public where it "opposed" anti-people policies being pursued by the Centre and the other that supported it was backing all its moves. "The opposition of the Left leaders is nothing but a big farce," he said.

Targeting the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the former Defence Minister said he was openly implementing World Bank policies that would ruin India's economic system.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National