BJD to oppose FDI in retail in parliament

Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Thursday said it would oppose the central government's policy on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail in the upcoming parliament session.

BJD chief Bhartruhari Mahtab said his party was opposed to FDI in retail in the present form and had decided to vote against it.

"We have already given notices in the parliament," Mahtab told IANS.

"We are not against FDI in core sectors, especially those that will improve our infrastructure such as road, airport and mineral based industries. We are opposed to FDI in retail because it is against the interest of the large population," he said.

"We believe that it (FDI in retail) will be a blow to the manufacturing sector," said Mahtab.

A cabinet sub-committee of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in September accepted 51 percent FDI in retail and gave states the option to decide whether they wanted it.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also BJD president, has said FDI in retail was not applicable to Odisha as it did not have any city having a population of more than 10 lakh. - IANS