Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Union Cabinet's decision to allow 51% FDI in retail sector amounts to playing into hands of multinational companies.
The Union Cabinet's decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in the retail sector amounts to playing into the hands of multinational companies, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Friday said.
Addressing series of public meetings in Nalagarh assembly constituency, going to the polls on November 30, he said the decision allowing the MNCs to open stores in the country would harm the interests of Indian traders and unemployed youth and force petty tradesmen to close shop.
Accusing the UPA of discriminating against Himachal Pradesh, Dhumal said curtailing the tenure of industrial package from 2013 to 2011, reducing the foodgrains quota under PDS and not granting special financial package to overcome the funds crunch caused by "adverse" recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission were examples of step-motherly treatment meted out to the state.
He said FDI in retail would seriously affect the self employment ventures in both rural and urban areas as youth coming forward to run small shops and kiosks would be discouraged.
Hitting out at the UPA government for price rise, corruption and "bias" towards non-Congress ruled states, he claimed that the BJP government in himachal has been making consistent efforts to provide relief to all sections of the society.
It has been spending over Rs150 crore on supplying subsidised foodgrains to all ration card holders including the above poverty line (APL) families and giving subsidy of Rs 166 crore on electricity to all the domestic consumers, he said.
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