‘Won’t allow FDI in multi-brand retail’

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BJP president Nitin Gadkari with party leaders Arun Jaitley and Prakash Javadekar on the second day of the party

“Leave sycophancy and prepare for polls as the Congress-led UPA government has lost its political authority,” was the message the BJP gave to its leaders on the first day of its national council meet on Thursday. The party also said that it will try to bring “non-Congress non-NDA” parties on board against the UPA’s decision of bringing FDI in multi-brand retail.
Attacking the UPA government for rampant corruption and bringing anti-people reforms, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari gave a clarion call to party workers to end “the rule of corrupt UPA” and “give voice” to people’s anger and mistrust towards the current government at the Centre.
The party also said that it will take its fight against government’s decision of bringing FDI in multi-brand retail to the Winter Session of Parliament as this decision is against the interests of small traders and is being brought under foreign pressure. The party’s economic resolution, moved by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, mentioned how FDI in multi-brand retail will effect farmers, small traders and how retail chains will destroy small traders by following “predatory pricing” policy.
“It is being said that the BJP is not spelling out its stand clearly on FDI in retail issue. We want to say FDI in retail will hurt the livelihood of the small trader. We will not allow FDI in multi-brand retail to come to India,” said BJP chief Nitin Gadkari in his inaugural address. He clarified that his party is opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail whatever be its quantum.
The main Opposition further alleged that FDI is being brought for votebank politics and to appease foreigners while continuing to stay in power through all means. However, the party has also firmly sought to ward off notions in some sections that the BJP is anti-reforms. The party has insisted that it is not against reforms but is firmly opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail.
Along with the small traders, the urban middle class also forms a core votebank of the BJP and is said to be in favour of FDI in multi-brand retail.
The party also criticised the government for attacking the federal structure, failing to stop illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and its stand on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. The party also promised that if it comes to power, it will create a separate Teleng-ana state like it did by creating Uttarakhand, Jharkh-and and Chhattisgarh. It also demanded that Indian government should protect the interest of Hindus who are facing persecution in Pakistan.
While moving the economic resolution, Mr Jaitley said the biggest reforms that the country requires now is elimination of agricultural subsidy, removal of restrains on outsourcing, removal of unreasonable restriction on visas and dismantling of unfair trade barriers on products of smaller economies.
“We are for reforms but every move is not reform. Its unfortunate that reform is being given a bad name. What goes against the grain of the country is not reform and we will reject it,” Mr Jaitley said.