FDI in retail protests: SP, BJP and other smaller parties force closure of Bharti Walmart store

LUCKNOW: The ruling Samajwadi Party workers in Uttar Pradesh forced closure of Bharti-Walmart's Best Price wholesale store in the state capital on Thursday as the state witnessed protests by SP, BJP and other smaller parties against FDI in multi brand retail and other policies of the central government.

Led by city unit chief of the Samajwadi Party Mujjhibur Rehman the SP workers marched to the Bharti-Walmart store near Sultanpur road and forced its closure. They raised anti-FDI slogans and said foreign retail chains would destroy the livelihood of farmers and small retailers.

Trains were stopped and markets remained closed for most part of the day in Uttar Pradesh as the nationwide bandh called by opposition parties against the UPA governments policies saw good response in the state.

Traders burned the effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a few places in the state and carried placards saying "Walmart go back".

Samajwadi Party workers staged a protest outside the residence of union minister of state, RPN Singh in Kushinagar.

Former BJP president Rajnath Singh said that the central UPA government has lost the authority to rule the country and said the likelihood of a mid term poll in the country has increased.

He said that the Samajwadi Party which was adopting double standards by continuing to supporting the UPA government and also protesting against its policies.

"The SP says that they are supporting the UPA only to keep BJP out of power. In that case let me tell them that the BJP will not form the government in case the UPA government falls down. The SP should

atleast withdraw support from the UPA government now in the interest of the nation" he said.

He said that the UPA government had promised in the parliament that they will consult all parties before allowing FDI in retail sector but had done it quietly without speaking to opposition parties.