AAP bats again for aam aadmi, says no to FDI retail in Delhi
14 Jan 2014 5:50 AM IST
The government released a letter on Monday written by Commissioner Industries on 1 January to the ministry of commerce stating that it was revising its stand to support FDI conveyed earlier on 13 July, 2012.
‘We agree that FDI in multi-brand retail stores gives more choice to consumers but the experience world over reveals that it leads to large-scale unemployment,’ said Kejriwal on Monday adding that FDI in its present form was not in the interest of the people of Delhi. ‘Today, there is huge unemployment in Delhi and AAP does not want to increase this joblessness,’ he added. He also indicated that they might bring a modified version of FDI. ‘I am not against FDI in the country but it should be decided on a sector to sector basis,’ he added.
When the central government introduced FDI in the summer of 2012, it had led to huge uproar leading to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress quit the UPA government. The BJP too opposed the move with none of its state governments adopting the policy.
With Congress governments bowing out of Delhi and Rajasthan, the two states which have adopted FDI, the future of the policy in the two states have become uncertain.
However, the letter released by the government has raised a few eyebrows as it revises the stand taken in July 2012. However, the policy was adopted in Delhi after it was adopted by assembly in December 2012. Reacting on the move, former industry minister of Delhi, Haroon Yusuf, whose government had cleared FDI in multi-brand retail despite huge protest of opposition parties and traders in 2012, said, ‘The chief minister can announce anything in public but he has to get a resolution passed in the assembly to supercede the earlier resolution adopted by the house.’
The government is under no obligation to call a meeting of the assembly till 2 June this year as even the state budget would be taken up after the Centre has passed its budget. ‘The budget session of Parliament will happen only after general election results. Thereafter, the schedule of Delhi assembly will be drawn. He may otherwise call special session of the House,’ said an official of Delhi assembly.
FICCI has also expressed its disappointment. ‘This negation without demonstrating a search for a viable alternative or via media would hamper investment sentiment,’ said Sidharth Birla, FICCI president.
Medha Patkar announces support to AAP
New Delhi: Social activist Medha Patkar on Monday announced that the Narmada Bachao Andolan will back AAP. She, however, refrained from clarifying whether she would contest elections for the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Narmada Bachao Andolan which has been leading the struggle of the oustees of the Narmada valley for the last three decades, declared its full support for the Aam Aadmi Party. Lakhs of oustees affected by the Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarovar, Man, Upper Beda, Jobat, and Bargi dams have been fighting for their rights, under the aegis of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
‘We agree that FDI in multi-brand retail stores gives more choice to consumers but the experience world over reveals that it leads to large-scale unemployment,’ said Kejriwal on Monday adding that FDI in its present form was not in the interest of the people of Delhi. ‘Today, there is huge unemployment in Delhi and AAP does not want to increase this joblessness,’ he added. He also indicated that they might bring a modified version of FDI. ‘I am not against FDI in the country but it should be decided on a sector to sector basis,’ he added.
When the central government introduced FDI in the summer of 2012, it had led to huge uproar leading to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress quit the UPA government. The BJP too opposed the move with none of its state governments adopting the policy.
With Congress governments bowing out of Delhi and Rajasthan, the two states which have adopted FDI, the future of the policy in the two states have become uncertain.
However, the letter released by the government has raised a few eyebrows as it revises the stand taken in July 2012. However, the policy was adopted in Delhi after it was adopted by assembly in December 2012. Reacting on the move, former industry minister of Delhi, Haroon Yusuf, whose government had cleared FDI in multi-brand retail despite huge protest of opposition parties and traders in 2012, said, ‘The chief minister can announce anything in public but he has to get a resolution passed in the assembly to supercede the earlier resolution adopted by the house.’
The government is under no obligation to call a meeting of the assembly till 2 June this year as even the state budget would be taken up after the Centre has passed its budget. ‘The budget session of Parliament will happen only after general election results. Thereafter, the schedule of Delhi assembly will be drawn. He may otherwise call special session of the House,’ said an official of Delhi assembly.
FICCI has also expressed its disappointment. ‘This negation without demonstrating a search for a viable alternative or via media would hamper investment sentiment,’ said Sidharth Birla, FICCI president.
Medha Patkar announces support to AAP
New Delhi: Social activist Medha Patkar on Monday announced that the Narmada Bachao Andolan will back AAP. She, however, refrained from clarifying whether she would contest elections for the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Narmada Bachao Andolan which has been leading the struggle of the oustees of the Narmada valley for the last three decades, declared its full support for the Aam Aadmi Party. Lakhs of oustees affected by the Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarovar, Man, Upper Beda, Jobat, and Bargi dams have been fighting for their rights, under the aegis of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
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