BJP releases manifesto, says FDI welcomed but not in retail

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections and said that the party would welcome foreign direct investment in sectors that would create jobs but not in multi-brand retail.

Releasing the party manifesto, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said: "Except for multi-brand retail sector, FDI will be allowed in sectors wherever needed for job and asset creation.

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, party president Rajnath Singh, LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Ravishankar Prasad, Rama Lal, Thawarchand Gehlot and JP Nadda were present on the dais.

The BJP manifesto has come on a day when the first of the nine phases is being held in six constituencies in the two northeastern states of Assam and Tripura.

The Election Commission on Sunday made it clear that there is no bar on a party to release its manifesto on a poll day, but it cannot be publicised or telecast in areas where elections are being held.