CMs split on FDI

Chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Maharashtra spoke on party lines about the centre's decision to allow 51% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector.

Chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Maharashtra spoke on party lines about the centre's decision to allow 51% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector.

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The chief ministers of Congress-ruled Delhi and Maharashtra, Sheila Dikshit and Prithviraj Chavan supported the decision, but Raman Singh of BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh said his government does not endorse the move.

"It is beneficial for Delhi. Already there are 40-50 malls in the city and the FDI in retail is a step forward. The centre has already made it clear that states which do not want it, would not be forced to do so," Dikshit said.

Chavan said the decision to allow FDI in retail would help the farmers get a good price for their produce since middlemen would be eliminated.

"It is in the interests of consumers and we should go for it," Chavan said.

Singh, however, said farmers of Chhattisgarh would not benefit from the decision and his government would not allow it.

"Chhattisgarh needs cold storage facilities for farmers and not Walmart," he said.