FDI in retail: Sharma reaches out to MPs

In the face of stiff opposition in Parliament to foreign direct investment in retail, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Monday sought to reach out to members of Parliament and state chief ministers and appealed to them to rise above 'petty' partisanship on the issue.

"I felt it is my duty to dispel some apprehensions expressed by certain political parties," he said in his letter to members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The letter was sent to senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, Communist Party of India-Marxist member of Parliament Sitaram Yechuri, Rashtriya Janata Dal party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, among others.

The parties should rise above 'petty' partisanship and strengthen Indian political systems, he said, adding that wide consultations were held before the decision was taken.

The government has come under attack on allowing 51 per cent foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector dominated by small-size

kirana stores to attract global giants like Walmart to open stores in India.

Sharma said, "In formulating this policy, we were conscious of the livelihood concerns of millions of small retailers."

Studies on the global experience with foreign investment in multi-brand retail revealed that even in developing countries such as China, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, local retailers have found innovative ways to co-exist with organised retail chains.

Sharma said the government was also mindful of ensuring food security for the poorest of the poor, retaining the first right to procurement of foodgrain.

The first right would rest with the government public distribution system, he said.

On concerns over the predatory pricing that may be resorted to by multi-national retailers, he said the Competition Commission would ensure that such practices are scrutinised.

"I have specially discussed the matter with the chairman of the Competition Commission to bring in a regulator. . . to ensure necessary checks and balances," he said.