Mamata Banerjee strongly opposes FDI in retail, other sectors

Mamta Banarjee deserves appreciation for opposing  FDI in key sectors like retail, insurance and aviation. Though on November 24, 2011 the government approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent FDI in single brand, it has kept the move in abeyance following strong opposition from the main UPA ally, Trinamool Congress, the BJP-ruled States, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party, Janatha Dal (U) and others. But Mr. Anand Sharma initiated a move to seek the support of States in order to roll out the 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail. The Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, has addressed a letter in June 20112 to the Chief Ministers of all States and UTs seeking their support for FDI in multi-brand retail. But his efforts to build a consensus on permitting foreign multinational retail giants like Wall-Mart, Tesco and others evoked lukewarm response even from among the Congress ruled states and UTs. According to the written reply on August 8, 2012 presented in the Rajya Sabha by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, only two Congress-ruled states (Delhi and Manipur) and two Union Territories (Union Daman & Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli) have responded positively to the central government’s letter seeking their support for implementing the decision to allow 51% FDI in the multi-brand retail trade. Therefore, those few politicians and a bundle of bureaucrats should have to change their mind set.
Dr. C., Murukadas, Economic Times, 23 Aug, 2012