Ruling without caring for farmers great tragedy, says Moily
July 24th, 2012 - 8:42 pm ICT by IANS
Kolkata, July 24 (IANS) With the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party strongly opposing opening up of country’s retail trade to FDI, Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily Tuesday said it a “great tragedy” that these parties are interested in running governments without taking care of the interests of farmers and consumers.
As the Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remained firmly opposed to allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his Samajawadi Party also had reservations over the measure before addressing farmers’ issues.
The SP, Left parties and the Janata Dal-Secular recently shot off a joint letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking the government not to open up retail trade to FDI any further.
On the back of that, Moily took a dig at the parties, in an oblique reference, saying: “I do not think anybody can oppose it. Reforms indicates change, reforms come out with innovations. Are you not interested in farmers? Are you not interested in consumers?
“Any political party - I am asking you. If you are interested in running the government without taking care of those problems (demand-supply gap), that would be the greatest tragedy.”
Moily claimed that FDI in retail would bring down existing demand-supply gap in present market conditions and ensure a win-win situation both for farmers and consumers.
“Demand and supply should be connected. But in the present market conditions we may not take care of the interests of the farmers and consumers. Farmers should get a better price and consumer should get a reasonable price. That is why FDI in retail is envisaged,” the minister said at an interactive session organised by the MCC Chamber of Commerce here.
West Bengal Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pande, who was also present at the interactive session, however, said: “Unless there is consensus, it (FDI in retail) cannot come. And we are opposed to certain things.”
“The minister is very free to say that he wants to implement. But he has to have the consensus of parliament. And if that is not available, then he will be not able to do it,” Pande, also a senior Trinamool Congress leader, told reporters on the sidelines.
- FDI: Government firm, tries to woo allies (Roundup) - Dec 02, 2011
- Trinamool to continue opposition to FDI in retail - Aug 10, 2012
- Trinamool had asked for FDI in its manifesto, says Congress - Sep 20, 2012
- PM dials, but Mamata says a firm 'no' on FDI - Dec 02, 2011
- Recall of retail FDI regressive, disappointing: India Inc (Roundup) - Dec 07, 2011
- Anand Sharma writes to parties clarifying FDI stance - Nov 28, 2011
- Mamata Banerjee opposes FDI in retail, insurance and aviation - Aug 23, 2012
- Heat on FDI grows, government calls all-party meeting - Dec 05, 2011
- Mamata says FDI decision on hold; government mum - Dec 03, 2011
- Nitish Kumar opposes FDI in retail - Jul 31, 2012
- Set aside petty politics on FDI in retail, urges India Inc (Roundup) - Nov 28, 2011
- For peace in parliament, FDI policy 'suspended' for now - Dec 07, 2011
- After Congress, Left accuses Trinamool of double standards on FDI - Sep 20, 2012
- FDI pause wins peace in parliament, disappoints India Inc. (Roundup) - Dec 07, 2011
- Ally Trinamool joins BJP, Left in opposing FDI in retail - Nov 24, 2011
Tags: akhilesh yadav, chief minister, consumer affairs minister, consumers demand, corporate affairs, demand and supply, interactive session, janata, left parties, mamata banerjee, manmohan, manmohan singh, oblique reference, pande, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, retail trade, trinamool congress, veerappa, west bengal