Congress Party and the UPA government are unwarrantably adamant

It is difficult to understand why the Congress Party and the UPA government are unwarrantably adamant to allow 51% FDI in retail trade. Why they are falling at the feet of time servers such as the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, the BSP supremo Mrs. Mayawati, the SP supremo Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav and so on. Actually, Dr.Manmohan Singh and the so called votaries of FDI in mutli-brand retail trade,   knows that “FDI in retail trade will not serve any purpose. It will do more harm than benefit the people.” In fact, in 2002, as leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, Dr.Singh fought tooth and nail against the introduction of FDI in retail. His colleague Mr. Priya Ranjan Munshi castigating the BJP, which was in power then and who tried to bring FDI in retail, said “it is anti-national to bring FDI in retail.”  Now, Dr. Singh says that FDI in retail is pro- national and is to be welcomed, irrespective of merits or demerits. What is cause for the somersault by Dr.Singh and the Congress party? Is it not true that they have fallen prey to the powerful lobbying by Walmart and other multinational retail giants and the pressure exerted by their home governments? Does it not mean that erroneous factors and extraneous considerations have played foremost roles? Reports show that Walmart officials have indulged in bribery to convince the Indian government to allow FDI in retail? If it is true, who are the beneficiaries of the bribery by Walmart? The people of the country want to know, what is the quid poke the government has entered into with the DMK for supporting the government in regard to FDI in retail trade? Is it not morally wrong to rescue the DMK from corruption charges and grant reprieve    from CBI inquiry against the DMK leaders? What is the rationale in accepting the dictates of Mrs. Mayawati with regard to reservation in promotion? What are the concessions the government is prepared to offer to Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav. Is it so worth to bend back and forth for getting support for FDI in retail trade? Moreover, the ill-advised  and retrograde decision to allow 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail trade is vehemently opposed  of almost all political parties, the entire trading community,  almost the whole of farming population and, of course, an overwhelming majority of the people of the country.  The propaganda that FDI in multi-brand retail will bring benefit to farmers and consumers is   nothing but deceptive misinformation, which is not supported by facts. This commentator has done extensive research on the pros and cons of FDI in retail trade in India. The results have been published in the form of a book entitled, “FDI in Retail Trade in India: a Retrograde Step” by M/s RAC Publications, No. 38 (Old No. 76-A) Choolaimedu, Chennai-60094. The study concludes as followers: “Evidences from various parts of the world indicate that   widespread   emergence of big format retail super stores have lead to extensive ruin of retail stores/shops thereby resulting in the loss of employment and livelihood to millions of persons involved in retail trade.… FDI in retail trade will not serve any purpose. It will do more harm than benefit the people.”The general perception is that in  order to vindicate its innocence, the government should    not stand on prestige, but reverse its decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail since it will endanger livelihood of millions of people.

Dr.C.Murukadas, The Times of India, Nov. 30, 2012.