Open debate on FDI in Retail : CAIT

Instead of Rallies the Government should face open debate on FDI in Retail

CAIT called on Government and Corporates to join open debate

 

Taking a strong view of the proposed rallies by the Congress Party substituted by the Government, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today said that instead of holding rallies, the Government should face an open debate on the controversial issue at any open platform may be at any media platform. " We throw an open invitation not only to Government but even the Industry Chambers like Ficci, Assocham and CII to accept the invitation and join any open debate at any open platform"-said Mr. B. C. Bhartia, CAIT National President and Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General in a joint statement issued here today.

 

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said that both sides may be allowed to accompany their respective experts. If Presidential Candidates in US can have open election debate why can't we have an open debate on this issue which has vital bearings on crores of people across the Country.

They also revealed that J&K Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, Industrialist Raj Kumar Dhoot, Congress MPs Shri Keshava Rao and Shri J.P. Aggarwal were part of the Parliamentary Standing Committee which submitted its unanimous report on 8th June,2009 in the Parliament  recommonding a blanket ban on entry of global retailers and domestic corporate houses in retail trade of India. They questioned what has happened now that they are opposing their own recommondations.

CAIT leaders said that if the advantageous arguments advanced by the Government and corporate bodies, in favour of FDI in Retail are logical and sound, then Govt  and Industry bodies should not hesitate to accept the CAITs invitation of a debate.

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal also said that Notification issued by the Government on 20th September,2012 is altogether different from the papers laid by Union Commerce Minister Shri Anand Sharma in the Parliament on 25th November,2011. The Government has gone miles ahead to provide all possible extra ordinary benefits to global retailers at the cost of local farmers, traders, small industries, labourers, hawkers,transporters and other sectors of retail trade. It is a fit case for breach of privilege of the Parliament and CAIT will urge different political parties to bring a motion of breach of privilege against the Government in forthcoming session of the Parliament.

 

In a democratic country the Government is under an obligation to conduct credible study, research or survey at least on the policies which have direct linkage to livelihood of the citizen prior to its implementation. But in the instant case, the Government took a hasty decision and did not conduct any survey,study or research  is an arbitrary decision. The majority view of the responses it received in response to its discussion paper and even the unanimous report of the Parliamentary panel have been totally ignored.

 

The CAIT has called both Government and the Industry bodies to accept the invitation of an open debate. Let the Countrymen know whether FDI in Retail is advantageous or dis-advantageous to the Country.