FDI in retail: Cong slams BJP for ‘threatening’ investors

The political battle between the Congress and the BJP over permitting FDI in multi-brand retail has got sharper. “The BJP is resorting to verbal lumpenism,” charged party spokesperson Manish Tewari as he hit out at the main opposition party for threatening foreign investors.

Referring to some statements by BJP leaders warning foreign investors that there could be change of government in 2014, and some state governments in 2013 that are currently in favour of FDI in retail, the Congress spokesperson said: “The BJP can have ideological and opportunistic differences with the Congress and the government, and it can disagree with some of the decisions. But the government has the right to make policies, and the opposition parties should not threaten foreign investors that these policies could change.”

Arguing that this reflects the dictatorial mindset of the principal opposition party, Tewari said it has become the norm for the BJP to pursue one course while in power and a diametrically opposite one while in opposition. “They did this at the time of the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement. They initiated the process of strategic partnership with the US when they were in power, and opposed the agreement when the UPA-1 pursued it,” he observed.

In the context of FDI in multi-brand retail, Tewari pointed out that in 2002 when the BJP-led NDA was in power there as a cabinet note for approving 100 percent FDI in multi-brand retail. “This only highlights their mindset, and their opportunistic approach on key issues of national interest,” he added.