There is strong opposition to the UPA Government’s decision to allow 51% FDI in retail trade. Not only the opposition parties, but also the allies of UPA like DMK, TMC are opposing it. Even several in the Congress are opposing it. The Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma appealed to all parties to rise above “petty politics” and support the Government’s decision. The Associations of Big Capitalists like FICCI, ASSOCHAM, and CII are also singing the same song. The capitalist land lord parties like BJP, Trinamool, DMK,AIADMK etc are opposing the FDI in retail trade out of political compulsions and not as a principled stand against liberalisation policies. Trinamool Congress is opposing since in Bengal, its opposition the Left Front is opposing FDI in retail trade from the beginning and it is a point convincing the people. In Kerala, the Congress State Unit is opposing it since it has to compete with the Left Democratic Front which has been opposing it. The BJP is compelled to oppose keeping its vote bank in view and not as a principle.
Hence the Associations of the big capitalists and the Minister for Commerce are appealing to these capitalist land lord parties to rise above such “petty politics” since they are all serving the same domestic and foreign capitalist classes. This appeal is not aimed at the Left Parties since they are opposing it as a principle.
To soften this opposition, the Government clarified that the condition that the retail shops with FDI thus coming should procure 30% of their requirements from SMEs(Small and Medium Enterprises) is misunderstood as if the condition is applicable for procurement from SMEs in other countries also. It clarified that the procurement should be from SMEs in India only.
Immediately a retort came stating that such a condition to have the procurement from Indian SMEs is against the agreement signed by the Government in WTO(World Trade Organisation). According to the WTO agreement , no preferential treatment should be given to Indian made commodities and Government should not impose such condition. Therefore the proposed condition for procurement of 30% requirements from Indian SMEs is irrelevant and not practicable. It is nothing but deceiving the people.
In support of the decision to allow FDI in retail trade, the Commerce Minister Anand Sharma stated that FDI in telecom sector helped its growth and done good for the country. But he is hiding the fact that after allowing the FDI in telecom services sector, Indian telecom equipment manufacture industry became unviable and 90% of the equipment required for expanding the network was procured from foreign telecom equipment manufacturers. As per the statistics given by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), During the years 2004-05 to 2008-09, equipment costing Rs 309369 crores was utilised for telecom expansion in India and only 11% of this i.e 34031 crores was the value created in India and a huge amount of Rs 2,75,338 crores accrued to foreign manufacturers. In this Rs 1,24,280 crores was for importing completely knocked down(CKD) equipment, and Rs 150518 crores was for importing semi knocked down (SKD) equipment.
Therefore it is clear that the Government wants to push through its decision allowing 51% FDI in retail trade, by telling untruths and half truths to convince people.
The decision of retail traders to observe nationwide bandh on 1st December 2011 is very much justified since FDI in retail trade will harm the millions of retail traders and also small and medium enterprises and farmers.
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