CWC endorses economic reforms

 There is nothing  to feel aggrieved that  Congress Party has fully endorsed the minority government's new economic reform measures, including FDI in multi-brand retail.  It has no other go. But it is premature for as Congress Party President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi to rule out any threat to the government in this connection. It has to be bone in mind that all political parties -- opposition parties as well as the main allays of the coalition, except one or two smaller parties are stoutly opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail trade. Moreover it an open secret that Congress Party President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is very much the decision to allow foreign retail giants such as Wall-Mart and Tesco to open multi brand retail shops, much against the sentiments and wishes of the retail trading community, almost all political parties, except perhaps the Congress Party and one ore to minor alliance partners, farmers€™ associations and the public in general. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and other votaries know very well that allowing 51% FDI in multi-brand retail trade will do more harm than benefit to the people of the country. They have fallen prey to the lobbying by the multinational retail giants like Wall-Mart and Tesco and their home governments, i.e. America and the European Union. Despite unprecedentedly strong opposition from all quarters, the Manmohan Singh government showed indecent haste and notified the rules to permit foreign retail chains into the multi-brand retail trade. The notification has evoked strong condemnation and disapproval from all sections--political parties, traders€™' bodies, farmers associations, experts and the public in general. Many believe that after withdrawal of support by the All India Trinamool Congress, the UPAII government has been reduced to minority and it is unconstitutional for a minority government to take such a vital decision to notify riles regarding FDI in multi-brand retail. Prakash Karat, General Secretary of CPM, has lashed out at the Congress-led UPA II Government for going ahead with its decision to implement FDI in retail without taking the mandate of the Parliament. The BJP leaders have gone to the extent of warning the multinational retail chains aspiring to set up shops in India like Wall-Mart and Tesco to think twice before investing in multi-brand shops because the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand might be annulled after the election, which will definitely see a change in government.

Dr.C.Murukadas, The  Times of Times, 25^th September, 20012