FDI in retail will enslave India: Hazare

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 21:10

Tags: FDI, retail, Anna Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi: Opposing FDI in the retail sector, activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said the move would lead to enslavement of the countrymen and will not benefit the farmers as claimed by the government.

“If people are saying it (FDI) should not happen, why are you insisting? The British came to India to trade and for 150 years, ruled us, enslaved us. Do you want to have a repeat?” he told a press conference on Wednesday evening.

“They (the foreign investors) will spoil the water and the environment. The government should consider this,” he said.

On the claim that farmers will be benefited by FDI in retail, Hazare said, “If it were so, in the 65 years after independence, farmers would not have committed suicides.”

He said he favoured unanimity among political parties on the issue. “All parties should rise above narrow considerations. There should be no inter-party differences,” he said.

Expressing displeasure over the Centre’s purported refusal to introduce a ‘strong’ Lokpal bill in the Parliament, Hazare reiterated that he would launch a fresh agitation from December 27 in New Delhi.

“The government promised to pass a strong Lokpal bill during the winter session. But it seems the government is in no mood to keep the promise,” he said.

Challenging the sceptics who say that his influence is waning, Hazare said, “On December 27, the country will see how many people come onto roads. What a few people say does not matter.

“The Parliament will be in session till December 22. The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) and Sonia Gandhi asked us to give them a chance. So we will wait till December 22. If by then the Jan Lokpal bill doesn’t come, our agitation will start.”

Hazare also announced that he and his associates would campaign against the government in the coming elections in five states. “We will tell voters that they (government) don’t want to curb the corruption.”

Referring to threats received by Team Anna, he said, “Some people warn us... it will be my good fortune to die for the country.”

The Lokpal issue should be discussed in detail, only then would people know the facts, he said. “We have accepted democracy and have faith in the Parliament,” he added.

PTI

First Published: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 19:49

Comments

K BASAVARAJAPPA - BANGALORE
FDI ENTERING IN RETAIL THERE WILL BE A HEALTHY COMPETATION AND FARMERS NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THEIR PRODUCED GOODS,FARMERS WILL GET GOOD MARKET RATES SAFE PRESERVATION OF MATEARIALS,WE CAN SEE THIS IN UK TESCO MARKETTING CENTERS,INFACT MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPURTUNITY WILL BE CREATED IN FDI,POLITICAL PARTIES UNNECESSARILY CREATED THIS ISSUE POLITICALLY JUST TO OPPOSE GOVT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF OPPOSITION,ONE SHOULD LOOK AT QUALITY AND PRICE OF MATEARIAL,I AM SURE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF FDI WE WILL NOT ONLY BENEFITTED AND OUR MATEARIALS ALSO EXPORTED AND FARMERS ARE MUCH BENIFITTED, ANY FOREIGN INVESTMENT WILL IMPROVE INDIAS ECONOMY AND NOBODY TAKE OUT FROM INDIA,ONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS SIMPLE THING,EVEN OUR SMALL RETAILERS CAN ALSO IMPROVE,DO WE STILL NEED STREET VENDORS AND HOW LONG,TAKE EXAMPLE OF MILK AFTER INTRODUCTION OF KMF SMALL SELLERS VANISHED AND THEY ECONOMICALLY IMPROVED BY SELLING THEIR MILK TO KMF,,,I SUPPORT THIS FDI DEAL,

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Ram - chennai
Do you really thing that foreign countries will by the products from our farmers????? They simply want to DUMP their SURPLUSES on us.

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S. Thomas - Beijing
Hazare should stick to agitating for a strong Lokpal bill that includes politicians and the judiciary. Talking about FDI in retail means little as there are vested interests in keeping them out. I see nothing wrong in farmers getting a better price for their produce as a result of which consumenrs also benefit. FDI in retial will help infrastructure growth and prevent a lot of food grains that rot from doing so with the creating of better infrastructure. This will in trun lead to lower prices within the country for foodgrains. I live IN Beijing where you have huge supermarkets rubbing shoulders with smaller ``wet markets`` and ``mom and pop`` groceries. There is no way foreign investors are going into every village in the country to establish a supermarket. Their presence will push up competition and make shopping a better experience for consumers.

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YSK Moorthy - Maharashtra
Once upon a time Indians started Swadeshi movement. Now Congress has started Pardeshi movement.

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HINDUSTANI - HINDUSTAN
REQUESTING TEAM ANNA, JUST CONCENTRATE ON JAN LOKPAL BILL. More Than 90% Indians Are Looking At Your Team For A Rich And A Developed India. Don’t Discourage Indians By Giving Unnecessary Statements, Which Has Nothing To Do With Jan Lokpal Bill. Just Ignore All Other Questions And Answer Only That Questions Which Are Related To Corruptions And Jan Lokpal Bill. Congress Has Appointed Intelligent Staff To Find Out Any Mistakes In Your Comments To Attack You. So Be Careful While You Talk. Speaks Only Against Corruptions And In Favor Of Jan Lokpal Bill And Don’t Answer Any Questions Which Are Not Related To Corruptions And Jan Lokpal Bill. Jai Hind.

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nikhil - dubai
WE ALL KNOW THAT DUE TO NO BETTER PRICE FARMERS ARE NOT GETTING THE RIGHT PRICE FOR THEIR CROP, WHICH LEADS THEM TO TAKE VERY HARSH STEP. IF BRITISH WERE IN INDIA AND RULED US FOR 150 YEARS, WE ALL SHOULD THANK BAPU MAHATMA GANDHI WHO FORCED BRITISH TO LEAVE INDIA ! ULTIMATELY THE BRITAIN OF TODAY HAS SHRUNK AND EVEN IF YOU INVItE THEM ARE NOT READY TO COME AND RULE AGAIN ON INDIA !!! WHAT EVER THEY COLLECTED IN 150 YEARS IS FINISHED IN JUST 65 YEARS WITH THEM. THE FACT IS ENTIRE EUROPE IS LOOKING TO INDIA FOR SUPPORT TO RUN THEIR COUNTRIES ! AND SEEKING INDIA`S HELP. WITH THE ALLOWING OF FDI IT IS NOT ONLY THE KIRANA STORES THAT WILL COME BUT ALSO THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BUT ALSO WILL BE EXPORTED TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE EVER THEY ARE PRESENT. AS PER NEWS REPORTS THAT 40% OF OUR FOOD PRODUCTION GETS DAMAGED, AN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL ALSO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FDI BENEFICIARIES TO BUILD STORAGE FACILITIES AND PRESERVE THE SAME THIS WAY THE FARMERS ARE LIKELY TO GET A GREAT DEAL OF BENEFIT !!! EVEN IT WILL GENERATE LOT OF EMPLOYMENT. HERE I WISH TO QUOTE LATE PRIME MINISTER NARSIMHA RAO ``THE ANY FOREIGN INVESTMENT ARRIVING IN INDIA AND IN ITS INFRASTRUCTURE CAN NOT BE TAKEN BACK !!!