Even as the Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and enhanced the limit for single brand retail to 100 per cent from present 51 per cent, the Manmohan Singh government made all efforts during the entire day to get the West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee, on board to back its decision.
More consultations
Earlier, during the day, the Trinamool Congress chief and her colleague and Railway Minister, Dinesh Trivedi, had sought postponement of the decision on FDI multi-brand retail stating that more consultations were required to address the interests of the farmers. “We are always pro-farmer. We can keep the country smile only because of farmers and industry. Let industry smile, let agriculture also smile. There are some matters in FDI that may need further discussion. Let the matter come up in our party, we will discuss it in our Parliamentary Committee,” Ms. Banerjee told reporters at the ongoing India International Trade Fair here during the day.
Interestingly, she was accompanied by Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma and Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh.
Discussions
Mr. Sharma had also held a round of discussions with Ms. Banerjee explaining that government had put some riders in the approvals for the FDI in multi-brand retail that would protect the interests of the farmers as well as small scale industries. It was not clear whether Mr. Sharma was able to get the approval of the Trinamool chief or not.
However, the Chief Minister said that Mr. Trivedi would put forth before the Cabinet the views of the party, which is an important ally of the United Progressive Alliance-II dispensation.
