Even as the stalemate over FDI in multi-brand retail continued for the ninth day on Friday,the BJP rebutted the charges made by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma in an interview that Himachal Pradesh was in favour of the proposal. Yesterday,an attempt was made to spread the wrong impression that Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat gave their support to FDI in multi-brand retail. I have talked to the Chief Ministers of both the states and they said this is not true, BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar told reporters. Kumar said Himachal Pradesh had not sent any reply. Meanwhile,Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal too accused Sharma of lying. It is a total lie. I am contesting Anand Sharmas claim. In fact,I also spoke to Shanta Kumar this morning. He also expressed his surprise over the Union ministers remarks. Why should Himachal Pradesh support or write to the Centre in support of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail? Dhumal told The Indian Express in Shimla. Kumar,who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce,said: I did get a call from Dhumal this morning after some TV channels quoted Sharma. I was surprised to see how the minister was trying to mislead the country and create confusion within the BJP. He added: Not taking a chance,I contacted Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat. He also has sent a denial. Neither Himachal Pradesh nor Gujarat has supported FDI. The BJP MP,who had twice been the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh,said: Twice,we (Parliamentary committee) were asked by the government to give views on the opening of the multi-brand retail sector to the FDI. We opposed it. The move is totally against Indias interests. He said that matter (FDI in retail) is still under consideration of the panel,and the Centre had by-passed it and taken this decision. The Standing Committee is still mulling over the issue and has not yet taken a call. Some of the members had expressed their anger and disagreement over this issue and asked for more details.. Discussions have not been completed. Why was this decision on FDI taken in such a hurry? Government should have consulted us, he said. Shanta Kumar alleged there was a report in June this year in a leading English business newspaper which said Rs 60 crore had been spent by Walmart on lobbying to be allowed to do business in India. However,when asked if he had any evidence to back this charge,Kumar suggested the matter be probed by politicians and the media. "This is a conspiracy to capture the Indian market. Earlier,pharmaceutical multinationals had bought eight Indian companies at four-five times their value and made them give an undertaking that they will not enter this market in future. These MNCs want to have a monopoly in India," he said. Asked if he would move a privilege motion against the government for "by-passing" the Standing Committee on Commerce on the FDI in retail issue,he said he would consult the panel.
