PM Manmohan Singh has done U-turn on FDI in retail: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today refused to buy Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's contention that no international pressure was behind the decision to allow FDI in multibrand retail and charged that he has done a U-turn on his own stand till 2004 against the policy.

"It is strange and it is time the Prime Minister clarifies on this. In 2002 and 2004, he had spoken against FDI in multi-brand retail. He has taken a U-turn somewhere between 2004 and 2010," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

She pointed out that though in November 2011, the government had assured that it would not take any step on FDI in multibrand retai unless all consultations with all stakeholders have been done.

"Have all consultations been done, Mr Prime Minister? How is it that you have changed your mind and brought this FDI in multibrand retail? Where has that assurance gone today? And how has this U-turn come about?" Sitharaman said.