In an indication that states in which it is in power are not likely to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP today said these governments were not bound by the Centre's decision.
The party also extended its full support to an all-India strike called by trade and social organisation on December 1 in protest against the decision to allow FDI in retail sector.
In a statement issued here, BJP President Nitin Gadkari said "BJP-ruled states are not bound to follow the government's new norms on allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trading and ease norms in single-brand retail."
The party has vehemently opposed the government's decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail, alleging this would adversely impact the small and family-run retail businesses across the country. This group has been traditionally seen as backing BJP.
"India would lose both manufacturing and services sector jobs with the entry of global retail behemoths into the supermarket sector," Gadkari said.
He said "my party is extending wholehearted and unequivocal support to the call for a Bharat Bandh on December 1, 2011, given by various traders associations and social organizations across the country against the government's anti-people decision," Gadkari said.
He charged the decision would adversely impact the retail sector and put the nation's entire food chain system into the hands of foreign firms.
Gadkari termed the government decision as a "lopsided move [taken] without consulting even its UPA allies" and alleged it is against the interests of the country's millions of traders and farmers.
