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The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, on Tuesday said the Samajwadi Party had reservations over allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail before addressing farmers’ issues.
“FDI in retail should not happen till the farmers and their products are protected,” he said in an interaction with members of FICCI Ladies Organisation here.
With TV channels reporting that Mr Yadav was contradicting his father Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav’s stand opposing FDI, senior party leader, Mr Ram Gopal Yadav pitched in to say the party was opposed to FDI in retail.
“Lakhs of families will be affected by this (FDI in retail) and even if Government introduces this, we will not let it come into force in UP,” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that when some multinational companies had opened fast food chains in the country, it was said that potatoes produced by Indian farmers would get a good buyer. “But that did not happen. There are many such issues. My party and Netajji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) have said that as long as the interests of farmers and small shop-keepers are not protected, our opposition to it (FDI in retail) will continue,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr Yadav, who was accompanied by his wife and first time MP, Ms Dimple Yadav, said, “We are not opposing it. All States want that investment comes to them. We are not against FDI. We want that if FDI in retail comes, it should not damage the poor farmers,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “If our manufacturing sector is not strong, finally this (FDI in retail) will damage our market….Retail in FDI is a big issue. There is a need for discussion,” he said.
When pointed out that Samajawadi Party had a written a joint letter with JDS and Left parties to Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh opposing the move, the Chief Minister said he was also making the same point
Maintaining that there was no contradiction between what was written in the letter and what he stated, the Chief Minister said his statements were a continuation of his party’s stand in Lok Sabha earlier.
He said that if other States see huge benefits from FDI in retail, let them first do it and show the results.
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