AAP govt says no to FDI in multi-brand retail in Delhi. Fulfills another manifesto promise!
Reversing the earlier policy, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has written to the Centre that it will not allow multi-national companies to set up multibrand retail stores in the state.
Delhi has become the first state to withdraw permission for FDI in retail sector. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the party manifesto had expressed its opposition to the policy of FDI in multi-brand retail.
Reversing the earlier policy, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has written to the Centre that it will not allow multi-national companies to set up multibrand retail stores in the state.
Delhi has become the first state to withdraw permission for FDI in retail sector. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the party manifesto had expressed its opposition to the policy of FDI in multi-brand retail.
The states that allow FDI funded stores include Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Kejriwal had been opposed to FDI in retail. In 2012, Kejriwal had
said, "The Walmart experience shows that farmers in the US were not
benefitted, but deprived besides being a very bad employer."
The
Kejriwal government has written to the Centre, withdrawing the approval
given by the Sheila Dikshit government for FDI in multi-brand retailing
in Delhi. It said the entry of global chains such as Walmart and Tesco
in India would cause large-scale job losses.
“The government has reviewed its earlier decision and it has been decided not to support FDI in multi-brand retail trade,” Kejirwal’s letter states.
“AAP is not against FDI but in the current scenario it can increase unemployment in the city. We agree that FDI in retail improves consumer’s choice. But the experience world over shows that it leads to loss of jobs to a very large extent,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters. The data provided by the Centre to back its decision to implement FDI could not be corroborated by AAP government, he added.
“The government has reviewed its earlier decision and it has been decided not to support FDI in multi-brand retail trade,” Kejirwal’s letter states.
“AAP is not against FDI but in the current scenario it can increase unemployment in the city. We agree that FDI in retail improves consumer’s choice. But the experience world over shows that it leads to loss of jobs to a very large extent,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters. The data provided by the Centre to back its decision to implement FDI could not be corroborated by AAP government, he added.
