TNI Bureau: As the Lok Sabha begins debate on FDI in Retail, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj slammed the government, saying it would boost only the multinational supermarkets, while putting the livelihood of farmers in danger. Amidst uproarious scenes in the House, Swaraj rebutted the government’s claims point by point.
When Sushma Swaraj talked about the plight of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh, the UPA members created a ruckus and obstructed her speech. The BJP members took strong exceptions and threatened to retaliate during the speeches of government speakers.
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While terming the concept of Wal-Mart as a big failure in the US, Sushma Swaraj also cited the EU declaration to prove her point. She further added that the supermarkets in European countries paid low wages to the farmers and employees, but kept high profits.
Sushma also raised the pitch by questioning why McDonald’s does not buy potatoes from small farmers on the ground that their produce does not meet their standard. She further said that FDI in Retail would generate employment in China, not in India. She blamed the government for the impasse, saying the opposition parties were never consulted or taken into confidence.
Earlier, the Speaker adopted the motion for the modification of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) notification, along with the motion on FDI in Retail despite the objections from the BJP and Left.