BJP-ruled states to oppose move

Protesting the government’s decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail after the single-brand, the BJP may even move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, sources in the party told Deccan Herald.

The BJP has strongly argued against FDI saying Indian economy should be modeled on the country’s ground realities and not fashioned on American or Chinese economic model.

“International retailers like Wal-Mart have been opposed even in Denmark and Canada as they were seen to be destroying the domestic economic model,” said senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

He said retail market is the biggest unorganised employment provider after the agriculture sector in the country and therefore needs protection. The comparison with the China (that also allowed FDI) was not justified as that country (unlike India) was into a large-scale manufacturing that gets sold to retailers like Wal-Mart and others.

“If foreign retailers do not get cheap goods in India they would source it from China,” Joshi said adding “this would be the most unfortunate situation”.

Asked whether BJP-ruled  states would allow FDI in their domain, the senior BJP leader said all of them would follow the central party line on FDI.