The Telugu Desam Party has alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at Centre has raked up Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) issue only to divert the attention of the nation from scams that were rocking the Parliament.
Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Sunday, TDP polit bureau member K. Yerrannaidu said that the UPA Government was taking unilateral decisions without consulting the Opposition and state governments. The Centre has decided to allow 51 per cent FDI in retail sector though it has no support from its own allies, he said.
It was a ploy to distract the attention from 2G and coal scams and hike in diesel price and cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders, he opined. The Centre was hurriedly pushing the decision without holding any debate. Allowing the FDI in the retail sector was fraught with serious repercussions, he added.
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The Centre seems to have not given any thought to the plight of those dependent on retail trade. It would destroy the livelihood of about four crore families, he alleged. More than five crore people would become jobless if the FDI was allowed, he said.
While Mahatma Gandhi fought against the foreign goods, the UPA chairperson was inviting multi national companies (MNCs) to handover the retail sector on a platter to them, he criticised, adding, the Centre should revoke its decision immediately and initiate a nationwide debate on the issue.
The TDP would join the all-party agitation against the alleged anti-people’s decision, he said and called upon the people to extend their support to the bandh on September 20. Mylavaram MLA and TDP district president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, urban president Vallabhaneni Vamsi, Vijayawada (Central) in-charge Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, state secretary Gottipati Ramakrishna Prasad, urban general secretary Songa Ravindra Varma, urban vice president Kotteti Hanumantha Rao and others were present.
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