JD(U) steps up attack on govt over FDI

PM's decision on FDI is an attack on bread and butter of 25 cr Indians engaged in retail business: Sharad Yadav

Sharpening attack on government over its decision to bring FDI in multi-brand retail, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav today asked Congress to remove Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for this "attack on the bread and butter of 25 crore people".

Addressing a public meeting during the bandh called by NDA, Left parties and SP to protest against the measures, Yadav backed senior BJP leader L K Advani's earlier contention that the trust vote won by UPA I in 2008 was "illegitimate".

"During the time of nuclear deal, they (the UPA) weaned away six member from BJP and one from our party. The then government survived by breaking other parties. Government could continue only due to this. When L K Advani said it was illegitimate, Congress President Sonia Gandhi got angry. But that is the truth," Yadav said.

Yadav hit out at the Prime Minister, saying his decision on FDI is an attack on the bread and butter of 25 crore people of the country engaged in retail business.

No other Prime Minister in the country in the last 64 years from Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, H D Devegowda, I K Gujral to Atal Bihari Vajpayee resorted to such a move, he said.

"Manmohan Singh, (Finance Minister) P Chidambaram and (Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission) Montek Singh Ahluwalia have done this. I want to appeal to the Congress Party to remove them," Yadav said.

He said that the government's this very decision will "destroy" indigenous market in the country. He also debunked arguments that the economic reforms will create employment.

"Only those reading in English schools will get these jobs. In last 20 years, since market was brought in the country by Manmohan Singh (as Finance Minister in Narasimha Rao government), those studying native languages have not got employment," Yadav said.