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Left to fight decision on FDI

Special Correspondent

To rally all political forces, says Karat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left parties would launch a major struggle against the UPA Government decision to allow foreign direct investment in the retail sector beginning with single brands, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Wednesday.

Inaugurating the valedictory rally of the 25-day `Kerala March' led by party State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan here, Mr. Karat said the Left would strive to rally all political forces and small traders in the fight against the UPA Government's decision. "We had given a note to the Congress and the Government opposing the move to open the retail sector to FDI. The Government had promised to get back to us. We got the reply in the form of the Cabinet decision yesterday," the CPI(M) general secretary said.

Mr. Karat said the decision would open the floodgates in the retail sector as several products could be sold under the single brand name. It is not just the CPI(M) that has opposed FDI in retail sector, most political parties have done so. The Government appears to have taken the decision so that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could show to the multinational companies at the World Economic Forum in Davos that his Government is committed to economic reform, he said.

Secret note

The CPI(M) leader also came down heavily on the UPA Government for what he termed the secrecy being maintained by it about the move for cooperation between India and the U.S. in the area of nuclear energy. A note on nuclear cooperation prepared by the Government of India is now in circulation among U.S. Senators though Parliament, MPs, UPA constituents and supporting Left parties are in the dark about it.

The note has apparently been circulated in preparation for the President George Bush's visit to India in March, he said.

Mr. Karat warned the Government against voting in favour of the motion seeking reference of the Iran nuclear issue to the Security Council when the IAEA meets on February 2 and 3 to discuss the issue.

The Government, he said, must clarify whether it would stand by the non-aligned countries, Russia and China on the issue or whether it would succumb to mounting U.S. pressure.

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