The Bharatiya Janata Party on denied the government’s allegation that Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, where the party is in power, had supported FDI in retail in the past and maintained that 19 states, including some ruled by Congress, opposed the proposal in reply to a Parliamentary committee.
Even as the stalemate over FDI in multi—brand retail continued for the ninth day today, BJP rebutted the charges made by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma in an interview that Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were in favour of the proposal.
“Yesterday, an attempt was made to spread the wrong impression that Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh gave their support to FDI in multi-brand retail. I have talked to the Chief Ministers of both the States and they said this is not true,” BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar told reporters.
Mr. Kumar said Himachal Pradesh had not sent any reply.
Sources said Gujarat has sent an open-ended reply which says the State favours FDI in the organised sector but not FDI in multi-brand retail.
Mr. Kumar, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, said though the matter is still under consideration of the panel, the government had “by-passed” it and taken this decision.
“The Standing Committee is still mulling over the issue and has not yet taken a call. Some of the members had expressed their anger and disagreement over this issue and asked for more details... Discussions have not been completed. Why was this decision on FDI taken in such a hurry? Government should have consulted us,” he said.
He maintained 19 of the states had informed the committee in writing that they were opposed to FDI in retail and the list includes Rajasthan where Congress is in power.
