Only Congress is supporting FDI in retail: Venkaiah Naidu

Asserting that foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail will lead to widespread displacement of people from their jobs, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said no party but Congress is supporting the policy.

"Had you consulted political parties, this situation would not have arisen. A minority government can't take such a big decision and impose it on the people of this country," Naidu said in the Rajya Sabha during a debate on the policy.

"Today, the situation in parliament is such that no party except Congress wants FDI in retail, including their allies," he said.

He questioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing FDI in retail while he was in opposition.

"If it was so important, why you didn't mention it in your election manifesto? National Democratic Alliance mentioned about allowing 26 percent FDI in the 2004 election and we were defeated. Do you want the same to happen to you in 2014 election?" Naidu said.

"There are double standards in Congress. They opposed FDI when they were in opposition and supporting it when in power," he added.

He said BJP was not against FDI but the issue was about the sectors.

"You are in deep slumber and suffering from paralysis and then suddenly woke up and are now behaving hysterically," he said.