Oppn attacks government over FDI decision

Rules liberalised for foreign investments in 15 sectors

The Modi government is set to face opposition heat in Parliament over its decision to liberalise rules related to foreign direct investment in 15 sectors.

The CPM questioned why the decision of liberalising foreign investments in 15 sectors was taken without Cabinet approval.“All these decisions have been taken on the eve of the winter session of the Parliament.  Worse, they have been taken even without the Cabinet approval,” the CPM polit bureau said in a statement.

CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the party would raise the issue in Parliament which meets for the winter session from November 26.

“This is a complete travesty of our system of parliamentary democracy. The Polit Bureau of the CPM condemns such unilateral decisions by the prime minister,” the CPM said.

Congress was also critical of the decision to liberalise FDI and sought to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he had accused the then UPA government of “selling out to foreigners” when it opened up the wholesale and retail sectors for foreign investments.

“The UPA government had debated the FDI issue in Parliament. Why could the government place it before Parliament,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC media department, told reporters here. While liberalising FDI policies for 15 sectors on Wednesday, the government also permitted single brand retail outlets set up using FDI to sell their products through e-commerce.

However, the government has remained firm on not allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, which the BJP argued could affect neighbourhood kirana stores.Surjewala also asked Modi to tell the nation whether he has now ensured that the decision of UPA government was then correct or has he now changed his stance. The BJP had opposed the decision of the then UPA government to allow FDI in wholesale and retail sectors taken in December 2012.