BJP attacks Manmohan, says PM does U-turn on FDI

BJP today refused to buy Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's contention that no international pressure was behind the decision to allow FDI in multibrand retail and charged that he has done a U-turn on his own stand till 2004 against the policy.

"It is strange and it is time the Prime Minister clarifies on this. In 2002 and 2004, he had spoken against FDI in multi-brand retail. He has taken a U-turn somewhere between 2004 and 2010," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

She pointed out that though in November 2011, the government had assured that it would not take any step on FDI in multibrand retai unless all consultations with all stakeholders have been done.

"Have all consultations been done, Mr Prime Minister? How is it that you have changed your mind and brought this FDI in multibrand retail? Where has that assurance gone today? And how has this U-turn come about?" Sitharaman said.

She maintained that in 2002, Singh had assured the Association of national traders in Mumbai that he was against FDI in multi-brand retail.

Alleging that there seems to be an "overnight change" in Singh's stand and that this appears to have come under US pressure, the BJP leader said "if this is not being done under pressure, what explains Hillary Clinton meeting Mamata Banerjee in the context of FDI in retail?"

She demanded that government clarify its stand on this.

"Are we having in this country a precedent where a Foreign Secretary from some other country comes over and directly interacts with a chief minister who just a few days before had objected to FDI in multibrand retail?" she said.

BJP demanded that Singh owes an explanation as to what are the compulsions under which FDI in multibrand retail is being brought in so hurriedly.

BJP maintained that the country cannot be misled into believing that multinationals like Walmart are coming here to build cold chain links, provide last-mile connectivity or bring benefits to small traders and farmers.

"Having procured in the international market at a cheaper rate, they are coming to utilise our domestic consumers. Are we throwing open the whole system? We will not offer any protection to the self-employed people of this country?" Sitharaman said.

The Opposition asked the Prime Minister not to hurry with this decision under any pressure.

BJP MP and party secretary Balbir Punj charged that though it is clear Singh is working under US pressure he is making a "pathetic attempt" to deny it.

"It is a pathetic attempt by the Prime Minister to deny something which is so obvious and glaring.... It is a sad day for the country that the Prime Minister of India has to deny that he is not working under foreign pressure and he does not sound convincing," Punj said.

He charged Singh had staked his prestige and existence of his government during UPA-I on Indo-US nuclear deal issue and has now gone ahead with the FDI in multi-brand retail.