New Delhi: Key UPA ally Trinamool Congress
on Friday opposed the government`s decision to open up the retail
sector to FDI, but insisted it was not breaking the norms of
the ruling alliance by doing so.
"It is a coalition government and not the rule of a
single party. We are opposing this decision but not breaking
any norms of alliance. We have a right to protest such
decisions," Minister of State for Health Sudip Bandopadhyay
told reporters after leading a protest inside Parliament on
the issue.
Maintaining that the party would oppose the move "when
it comes to Parliament", he said Railway Minister Dinesh
Trivedi "has already registered his dissent in the Cabinet
meeting yesterday". The Union Cabinet yesterday decided to
allow 51 per cent FDI in the retail sector.
Bandopadhyay, who was re-elected Leader of the party in
Lok Sabha, said the move would adversely affect a
cross-section of people like shopkeepers, farmers and
transporters.
"Initially, the big bosses (multi-brand retailers) will
buy goods and keep them in the go-downs. After 3-4 years, they
will dictate terms on our prices when they have sufficient
stocks. They will also sell cheap India goods outside India,"
Bandopadhyay said.
PTI
