Refusing to budge from its stand demanding rollback of FDI in retail sector, the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said before allowing FDI in multi-sector retail, the government should have strengthened the manufacturing sector.
The party claimed even within the UPA there is no consensus on the issue. While the government has convened an all-party on Wednesday to end the deadlock in Parliament over the issue, the main Opposition has clarified that it wants noting less than rollback of FDI in retail sector.
The party has already issued a whip to its MPs in case the Opposition’s adjournment motion against the government’s decision is taken up. The party also hinted that government had succumbed to international pressure by agreeing to FDI in retail sector.
Insisting that the decision, if implemented, will harm the interest of farmers, small retailers as well as consumers, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley asked why the Congress leadership is yet to clarify its stand on the issue.
Accepting that the country’s economy is in a bad shape and needs some effective measures, Mr Jaitley, however, said allowing 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail is not the solution.
The senior BJP leader said before allowing FDI in multi-sector retail, the government should have strengthened the manufacturing sector.
He warned that if FDI in retail is allowed now, India would end up producing a generation of only salesgirls and boys.
Mr Jaitley said even during NDA rule there had been proposals from the US and European Union to open up the economy to FDI in retail.
“Even some within the government said we should allow FDI in retail but we refused,” Mr Jaitley said.