New Delhi:
BJP MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley addressed media after day one of the Winter session was washed out over FDI in retail issue.
Here are the highlights of what Arun Jaitley said:
- I do not know under what pressure the government is under that it doesn't want a vote on FDI.
- Voting is not alien to Parliamentary democracy. I have demonstrated how FDI in retail will affect millions in India.
- Wal-Mart doesn't have a single store in New York's Manhattan. The Mayor there may have to resign if it did.
- It is unfair to compare our situation to China. Wal-Mart stores in China stock Chinese products. So how can they not sell in China.
- The argument is FDI in multi-brand retail will lead to a back-end chain that is roads and cold storage facilities.
- Cold Storage facilities aren't rocket science that it needs FDI.
- The govt also says the middlemen will be finished and the consumer will benefit - but that isn't in tune with our experience. Look at milk cooperatives in India.