Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma asks BJP to embrace FDI in retail

AHMEDABAD: Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma today appealed to BJP to stop protesting against FDI in retail saying the policy will not only generate more job opportunities but also protect the interest of small traders.

"FDI will bring in more employment...I ask Modi and BJP why are they protesting against it?," he said at a party rally at Gandhinagar ahead of Gujarat Assembly elections next month.

Dispelling the perception that FDI spells doom for small traders, he said, "When McDonald and Pizza Hut came then also they (opposition) protested saying business would go... but they also flourished...Nathu sweets, Bikaner shops have flourished and expanded."

Sharma said the Centre is discussing the issue of FDI with ten states having large produce like Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan. "The states will decide whether they want FDI or not," he said.

He alleged that BJP-ruled states like Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat made a 'U-turn' on the issue after initially agreeing on FDI.

"Gujarat and Himachal gave in writing that they want FDI but after BJP's stance Modi made a U-turn," he said.