Uma Bharati threatens to burn down first retail FDI shop that comes up

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharati has said she will "burn down the first retail shop that comes up" after the introduction of FDI in multi-brand retail in the country. She said that she was willing to go to jail even.

"I do think when I'm taking this Ganga Abhiyaan, I'm challenging the economy of foreign companies. India is capable of growing... We do need additional support but not with everything. Ganga Abhiyan is a vaikalpik challenge to this arth vyavastha (economy)," she said.

"The first shop that will come after this agreement, I'm ready to burn it and go to jail," she added.

The Centre last week announced 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail as part of big bang reforms to bring the economy back on track.

While the markets cheered the move, the Opposition and a few allies of the UPA announced nationwide bandhs on September 20 against the reform measure.