Bandh message is rollback of UPA policies: Venkaiah Naidu

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said the bandh against United Progressive Alliance government's policies was a success and its message was to roll back FDI in retail, diesel price hike and rationing of gas cylinders.

Talking to reporters, Naidu said the specialty of the bandh was that it was supported by allies of coalition government like Dravida Munettra Kazhagam and those parties which extend support from outside.

"It was a people's bandh against the UPA government and its success was clearly a loud message for a rollback. Almost all political parties have opposed the UPA government's recent decisions," he said.

Stating that the National Democratic Alliance government had initiated reforms such as construction of national highways, rural roads, railway safety funds, ports and airports, he said reforms should be positive, but the UPA government's decisions would burden the people and would not create any additional employment.

Allowing FDI in the multi-brand retail trade would adversely affect 25 crore small traders, he said. He alleged the UPA government has bypassed and betrayed Parliament as it had assured Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that the decision to permit 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail trade would remain suspended until a consensus was developed through consultation amongst various stakeholders, including state chief ministers.

The government has announced reforms without consulting opposition parties, traders' community and chief ministers of the state, he said.

He said the UPA government has no moral right to continue in power as it is now in minority, reiterating that mid-term polls are the only solution.

Replying to a query about the Third Front, Naidu said, "It was an impractical and failed experiment".