Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: A day after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi accused Dr Manmohan Singh of working for the benefit of "foreigners", the Prime Minister on Saturday hit back at the BJP leader.
Speaking here shortly after the oath-taking ceremony of new Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, Dr Singh said his government doesn’t work at the behest of any foreign nation.
Both Dr Singh and Modi’s remarks were in context to the government’s decision to allow 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail.
“FDI has nothing to do with the US. We are not to be dictated by others,” the PM said.
The Prime Minister stressed that economic reforms will continue, adding his government will do everything possible in the interest of the nation.
“We will do what is good for the country. Reforms are not once-for-all process,” he stated.
The Prime Minister was responding to questions on demands for rollback of decisions on FDI in multi-brand retail, diesel price hike and cap on subsidised LPG cylinders by the opposition.
When asked to respond to reservations expressed by allies that the recent decisions could hurt their electoral prospects, Dr Singh said the issue could be discussed. "We are far away from elections."
Asked about attacks on him by Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee, who recently walked out of the UPA, he said, "I am not bitter about anything."
The PM also welcomed the recent Supreme Court opinion on Presidential Reference, which clarified that auctions were not the only way to allocate natural resources.
“We honour Supreme Court opinion on Presidential reference on allocation of natural resources,” Dr Singh said.
First Published: Saturday, September 29, 2012, 12:14