BJP asks Sukhbir for a concrete proposal on FDI
Thursday, 27/09/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120927/punjab.htm#6
Chandigarh : A day after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal indicated he was for foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail in case of a national consensus on the issue, the Punjab BJP today opened the doors to discussions, inviting him to come out with a concrete proposal, if any. But it also emphasised that the BJP's stand against FDI was a considered one.
Adviser to the Chief Minister and BJP general secretary Kamal Sharma said the BJP was ready to examine any concrete proposal put forward by the Deputy CM. He said the proposal would be forwarded to the party high command which would take a final decision on the matter.
Sharma claimed that too much was being read into Sukhbir's recent statement that the SAD would welcome FDI in case a national consensus was evolved on the issue. "There is no question of a national consensus on this matter," he said.
Sharma denied that the position of Punjab farmers was any different from those in the rest of the country, adding the party was equally concerned about the welfare of state farmers.
It seems the issue of FDI is becoming a political one with the SAD and BJP both keen to safeguard their vote bank. While the BJP is clearly against FDI because small traders comprise its vote bank, the SAD finds itself in a quandary because it has both pro and anti-FDI lobbies in the party.
While a large number of SAD MLAs representing the farmers are in favour of FDI, there is an anti-FDI lobby headed by candidates representing the trading class who were elected on the SAD ticket for the first time. Sukhbir, who wants the SAD to be a secular party with little reliance on the BJP, cannot afford to ignore the voice of these MLAs.
Sukhbir is accordingly toeing a middle path, indicating to farmers that he is essentially in favour of FDI but making it clear that it should be implemented only if the Centre takes the BJP on board. Party officials as well as SAD ministers and even the State Mandi Board chief are making pro-FDI noises to send the "right" signal to retailers who might want to invest in the state. This means retail into the state could be encouraged indirectly.
Retailers can set up shop in Ludhiana under the present guidelines approved by the Centre in case the state approves of the same.
