FDI in retail: Congress urges people not to join 'Bharat Bandh' on September 20

YAVATMAL, MAHARASHTRA: Praising the centre's recent announcement of foreign direct investment in the retail sector, diesel price hike and subsidy withdrawal to cooking gas, the Yavatmal District Congress Committee (YDCC) urged people not to join the NDA-sponsored ' Bharat Bandh' on September 20.

The YDCC president and sitting MLA Wamanrao Kasawar highlighted long term "benefits" of the new economic steps and claimed that the BJP's only agenda is to dislodging the present UPA government through a mid-term poll, while talking to reporters here. He urged the public not to join the bandh and extend their support to the government for the nation's "all-round progress".

When asked if he personally is in favour of the diesel price hike and the restriction on LPG cylinder supply, he tried to skip the question, but said that the YDCC would urge the state government to enhance the number of cylinders from six to 12 annually as well as bear the financial burden.

He claimed that the central government is sincere in bringing development to the nation for which certain strict steps are to be taken, but the BJP wants to stall it and is out to create unnecessary controversy.