Political parties opposing FDI due to political compulsions, says Salman Khurshid

Mt ABU, RAJASTHAN: Rejecting suggestions that pushing reforms will cost Congress dear in elections, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid today claimed that most parties want FDI in multi-brand retail but are opposing it due to their political compulsions.

"Congress will be victorious in the elections.... The Prime Minister will come out unscathed," the minister told reporters while responding to questions on the fallout of the big bang reforms pushed by the Government in recent days.

On opposition to allowing 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, he said "most parties want this but they have their political compulsions".

Asked about the rise price of diesel, he said the government imports 80 per cent of the diesel required by the country.

"If the prices are not raised, diesel will not be available to the people," he said.

He evaded queries on the alleged irregularities in coal block allotment and instead asked "whether the people would not like to have power which is produced from coal".

The Union Law and Minority Affairs Minister was speaking on the sidelines of a programme organised by Centre for Reserch and Debates in Development Policy.