FDI in infrastructure welcome, not in retail

Mamata Banerjee

“I don’t agree with such economic reforms which are anti-people because I believe in grassroots reforms which concern the masses. Leaders should stop taking decisions which help only four or five people for gaining personal laurels from handful of people. It is a matter of entire country. Everybody should think about the common masses of the country rather than the creamy section of the society. Because creamy section makes one per cent and common masses make the rest 99 per cent of the population.”

L K Advani

“The promise had been made to both houses of Parliament by the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that we will not bring FDI in retail until a consensus is evolved with all stakeholders including all political parties and all Chief Ministers. Therefore, we hold that the announcement of FDI in retail is a breach of trust of Parliament. Therefore, we would request for convening of a special session of Parliament. We will make a formal request to the President for the special session after the September 20 nation-wide bandh called by us.” 

Jayalalitha

“This decision is totally undemocratic and against public interest. The UPA Government has been making blunder after blunder by adopting many anti-people policies and this latest decision will only add up to one more such serious blunder committed by the Central Government, which seems to be totally unmindful of the interests of the common people.  My Government will never allow FDI in retail trade in Tamil Nadu.”


Akhilesh Yadav

“Our stand is very clear on the issue of FDI in retail and we will not implement it in the state. If the UPA is so keen on FDI then it should invite foreign investment in infrastructure sector like power, roads and highways.”

Mulayam singh yadav

“Ab Congress ki akal theek ho jaani chahiye (It’s high time the Congress learnt its lessons). The Congress should introspect what it has given to farmers and people of the country.”

Prakash Karat

“As a result of the FDI move, companies such as Walmart will eat up the sources of income of small and medium-scale traders and farmers. We will fight for this inside and outside Parliament. I request Mulayam Singh to support us in this fight.”

Sudhakar Reddy

“The permission for the FDI in retail was given under pressure from Obama and the MNCs as they have influenced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet.”

Narendra Modi

“I don’t know what the Prime Minister is doing. Small-time shopkeepers will have to close down due to this decision. Cheap goods produced elsewhere will be dumped in India and it will affect the manufacturing sector of the country as manufacturers of small items will find it difficult to survive. This will lead to massive job losses for the youth.”

Nitish Kumar

“The foreign retailers will not only destroy the domestic traders, but take away the hard-earned money of the people to their respective countries. If the FDI has to be allowed then it should be asked for investment in infrastructure sectors like roads, ports and power plants as in that case the capital investment would remain in the country.”

Chandrababu Naidu

“I have changed a lot. I realised that reforms should not be imposed on the people, the need for change has to come from within. Allowing the FDI in the retail sector is fraught with serious repercussions. It will destroy the livelihood of about four crore families.”
    
R V Kanoria, FICCI

“The country needs reforms, it needs to grow, it has potential, talent and entrepreneurial skills. I will urge those who are not supporting the reforms to think carefully.”

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