Congress hails FDI notification

Congress on Thursday hailed the government's decision to notify the FDI in retail.

Congress on Thursday hailed the government's decision to notify the FDI in retail.

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Union Minister and Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said the development would help both farmers and consumers who have been exploited by middlemen till now.

On opposition from several parties to the move, he said, "Those chief ministers who do not want to implement FDI in retail are free to do so. But they should not stop CMs who wanted it in their states."

He recalled that opposition parties had also objected to the introduction of computers in banks during Rajiv Gandhi era and now India has become a superpower in information and technology.

Taking a dig at the Left, he said China has been welcoming investments from US companies in almost all fields. The Left do not criticise China but when it is done here they oppose it tooth and nail," he said.

The government notified its decision to allow global retail giants like Walmart to open stores in India, on a day several political parties called Bharat Bandh to protest against the policy.

With this notification, multinational retailers can invest up to 51% to open stores in 10 states and UTs which, till date, have agreed to implement the decision.