PM urges colleagues to refrain from questioning govt decisions

The crucial meeting of the Union Cabinet on Friday evening saw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh making a forceful plea to his colleagues “to remain united” and refrain from questioning government decisions.

The PM spoke when Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Vayalar Ravi, the Overseas Indian Affairs minister who also holds the additional charge of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises portfolio, expressed apprehensions over the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. Ramesh was understood to have pointed out that “human dividend was important in the entire issue and interests of local retailers should be kept in mind.”

Ravi was of the opinion that the decision will adversely impact traditional retailers.
The prime minister apparently said a high-level group under the minister of Consumer Affairs will be constituted to examine various issues concerning internal trade and make recommendations.

He also noted that in some countries, not only does the organised and unorganised retail sectors co-exist, but traditional retailers have also shown strong competitive response. Moreover, one has to respond to the needs of the customers who stand to gain through competitive prices and technological upgradation.

“Time for big-bang reforms has come. If we have to go down, we will go down fighting,” Singh said.

The PM went on Twitter soon after the Cabinet meeting. The PMO Twitter handle quoted him saying: “I urge all segments of public opinion to support the steps we have taken in national interest.”

“I believe that these steps will help strengthen our growth process and generate employment in these difficult times. The Cabinet has taken many decisions today to bolster economic growth and make India a more attractive destination for foreign investment,” he added.