Akhilesh waves red flag at FDI in retail

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today said his government did not favour foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.

He reasserted his party’s stand that FDI would be detrimental to the interests of farmers, milk producers and small traders.

“We are opposed to FDI in retail. It will not be implemented in UP. The government will not permit opening of such outlets in the state,” said the chief minister, while addressing mediapersons on the eve of the completion of six months in office.

He, however, welcomed FDI in power and infrastructure sectors. On the issue of continuing support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), he maintained the matter would be decided by the national leadership of his party.

Will decide on continuing support to UPA in October: BSP
Terming as “anti-people” the Centre’s decision to hike diesel price and allowing FDI in retail sector, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today said it would take a final call on continuing support to the Congress-led UPA on October 9.

“In the last two-three days the government has taken several anti-people decisions,” BSP chief Mayawati told reporters here. She said her party would hold a ‘Maha Sankalp rally’ on October 9 at Ramabai Ambedkar rally ground in Lucknow on the occasion of BSP founder Kanshiram's death anniversary.

“On the same day or the next day an executive meeting will be called in which it will be decided whether we will continue support to the UPA government,” Mayawati said. BSP is providing outside support to UPA.

Mayawati said the decision to hike diesel price and limit subsidised LPG gas has affected farmers, poor and middle-class people. Diesel price hike would result in price rise of essential commodities and make livelihood of lower strata of the society difficult. Criticising FDI in retail, she said her party had been opposing the policy from the last one year.

Earlier, he read out the achievements of his regime even as newspapers have carried full page advertisements highlighting the ‘milestones’ of the state government.

Yadav said his dispensation was committed to socioeconomic development and the pre-poll promises were being fulfilled in right earnest.

Referring to precarious power situation, Yadav said steps were being taken to augment generation and run plants on maximum plant load factor. He admitted that availability of coal was a major issue.

“There was a time that no industry was looking to UP for investment, but now the industry wants to invest here. Soon, there change would be visible on the ground,” he said.

Yadav said its neighbouring state Madhya Pradesh had been able to attract industry and the UP government would also provide all possible sops to speed up the process of industrialisation.

“In our earlier Samajwadi Party regime, UP had been able to attract industry and a number of sugar mills were set up,” he reminded.

While the pre-poll promise of unemployment dole had already started, other major promises like free laptop, tablet and Kanya Vidya Dhan schemes would soon be started, added the chief minister. “The free laptop scheme would start rolling in November,” he informed.