File photo
Bangalore:
Maintaining that there was no "political compulsion" behind Karnataka government's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday defended the step, saying it would not affect retailers.
Siddaramaiah, whose government's decision comes within six weeks after the Congress regained power in the May Assembly polls in Karnataka, said the Centre had been told that "we have no objection (to Foreign Direct Investment)."
He said Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had written on FDI to the state government which in turn replied to it.
"I don't think there will be any problems," said Siddaramaiah, adding the decision was in tune with UPA policy that the FDI in multi-brand retail would generate employment, control prices and would not affect small retailers.
He said there were "some concerns and fears" over opening doors to FDI in multi-brand retail but there was no need for it, as at least 30 per cent of the goods and should be procured locally.
"No political compulsion," he said as he defended the step that has put Karnataka in the league of 11 other states and Union Territories which have taken a similar decision.
He said BJP's opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail was for the "sake of opposition only" as they were not in power.
"Have they opposed privatisation and liberalisation," he said, at the meet-the-press programme organised by Bangalore Press Club and Bangalore Reporters Guild.
The previous BJP government in the state had opposed opening doors to FDI.
Siddaramaiah said the government intended to spend Rs 10,000 crore each year to speed up implementation of pending irrigation projects. Citing estimates, he said Rs 45,000 crore was required to complete the pending irrigation schemes.
On the power front, he said not even a single MW had been produced in the last five years (during BJP rule in the state) despite power crunch, particularly in rural regions. Efforts would be made to generate 4,700 MW more in the next two or three years.
Karnataka government had also requested the Centre to allot coal blocks for five major power projects, work on which was in an advanced stage.
He said his government had already initiated steps towards infrastructure development, garbage disposal and improving drinking water supply in Bangalore.
On water shortage, he said 20 TMC ft was required to meet the needs of Bangalore and the state's counsel had been instructed to put forth before the Supreme Court that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had not considered this aspect.
On the Uttarakhand flood calamity, he said 955 persons from Karnataka who were stranded there had returned safely and 250 more might still be remaining and efforts were being made for their return also.
Siddaramaiah, whose government's decision comes within six weeks after the Congress regained power in the May Assembly polls in Karnataka, said the Centre had been told that "we have no objection (to Foreign Direct Investment)."
He said Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had written on FDI to the state government which in turn replied to it.
"I don't think there will be any problems," said Siddaramaiah, adding the decision was in tune with UPA policy that the FDI in multi-brand retail would generate employment, control prices and would not affect small retailers.
He said there were "some concerns and fears" over opening doors to FDI in multi-brand retail but there was no need for it, as at least 30 per cent of the goods and should be procured locally.
"No political compulsion," he said as he defended the step that has put Karnataka in the league of 11 other states and Union Territories which have taken a similar decision.
He said BJP's opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail was for the "sake of opposition only" as they were not in power.
"Have they opposed privatisation and liberalisation," he said, at the meet-the-press programme organised by Bangalore Press Club and Bangalore Reporters Guild.
The previous BJP government in the state had opposed opening doors to FDI.
Siddaramaiah said the government intended to spend Rs 10,000 crore each year to speed up implementation of pending irrigation projects. Citing estimates, he said Rs 45,000 crore was required to complete the pending irrigation schemes.
On the power front, he said not even a single MW had been produced in the last five years (during BJP rule in the state) despite power crunch, particularly in rural regions. Efforts would be made to generate 4,700 MW more in the next two or three years.
Karnataka government had also requested the Centre to allot coal blocks for five major power projects, work on which was in an advanced stage.
He said his government had already initiated steps towards infrastructure development, garbage disposal and improving drinking water supply in Bangalore.
On water shortage, he said 20 TMC ft was required to meet the needs of Bangalore and the state's counsel had been instructed to put forth before the Supreme Court that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had not considered this aspect.
On the Uttarakhand flood calamity, he said 955 persons from Karnataka who were stranded there had returned safely and 250 more might still be remaining and efforts were being made for their return also.
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