Bhubaneswar, Nov 15 (Odisha.in) Putting aside all speculations, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday asked the MPs of his ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to oppose the UPA government policy on FDI in multi-brand retail, in the parliament.
“We have decided to oppose in the parliament the foreign direct investment in multi brand retail”Bhartruhari Mahtab , Biju janata Dal chief whip in Lok Sabha told Odisha.in. “FDI in retail is against the interest of the large population. It will hit country’s manufacturing sector” he pointed out.
A cabinet sub-committee of the UPA government in September accepted 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and had however left the states with the option to decide if they want multi brand retail in their states. Soon after the decision the BJD had said it would examine it and soon make its stand clear on the matter.
Mahtab said his party has already given notices in the parliament opposing the central government decision. “We are opposed the way the decision was taken without proper consultations. We don’t want it in its present form” he said.
He said the BJD is not against foreign direct investment in core sectors such as infrastructure, road, airport and mineral based industries.”Unless the manufacturing sector is ready, there is no point of allowing FDI in retail sector, he said. It will prove devastating and cause large scale unemployment. Small traders will lose jobs” he added.
Although the FDI in retail is not applicable to Odisha as it did not have any city having a population of more than ten lakh, the support of BJD could have helped Congress led UPA to increase its strength on the issue in the forthcoming winter session of the parliament.
Odisha.in