FDI: Shashi Tharoor challenges Trinamool

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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday launched an attack against Trinamool Congress on the 'much-in-news' FDI row on Twitter.

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram questioned the double standard shown by Trinamool congress and his twitter pal Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Derek O'Brien was at the receiving end.

Tharoor challenged O'Brien to reply why FDI in retail was a good idea in 2009 but not in 2012. Tharoor said TMC had supported FDI in its election manifesto ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Tharoor’s tweet become an instant hit on the micro-blogging site with close to 170 followers of the MP retweeting his post.

Many followers engaged in a debate and Amol Dhurve tweeted: "Whether congress appointed Tharoor to answer questions on scams??"

Amit Malviya, another follower, asked Tharoor: “Can you explain why PM Manmohan Singh opposed FDI in Retail in 2002 but wants to push now? He repiled he was not in the picture in 2002."

Tharoor also added, “Every country I've lived in except India permits 100% FDI in retail. So does most of the world. Our 51% proposal is quite modest” (sic.)

Regarding the talks of FDI in print media, Sachin Dixit poised a question to the MP: “Sir, what abt FDI in print media?"

Tharoor immediately replied, “I'm in favour of FDI in print media. Raised a question in Parliament on this a year or so ago. Government not in favour though.”

Tharoor was conscious about the criticism from various corners regarding the employment and other issues related to the FDI in the retail market. To a question he tweeted: “There is legitimate criticism of Walmart's low salaries &employment practices. Same issue unlikely to recur in India.”

After several hours Derek O'Brien accepted Tharoor's challenge and replied in a tweet claiming that for the several years Trinamool is against FDI.