Petition to challenge FDI in retail

A petition challenging FDI in retail and SEZ policy would be filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court soon. This was stated by Sonia Raj Sood, a Supreme Court lawyer during a press conference here today.

She cautioned that in the haste of setting up SEZs and allowing super giants retail chains, the government had overlooked the need of having rules and regulations in place to ensure the welfare of small traders. She said a petition in this regard has been filed in Jaipur High Court.

"I am not opposed to FDI, but we want the government to ascertain how much of investment is coming in country, and how much of it is going to be used for developing agricultural products and infrastructure. Whether these MNCs are going to source goods from India. Also FDI in retail will directly wipe out 15 million retailers and also affect 98 per cent of the retail trade in India," she added.