Scrap retail FDI, RSS body to PM

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RSS-affiliated bodies have maintained that they will give time to the NDA government to settle down and concentrate on development works. However, the SJM in the recent past has criticised the government’s land acquisition bill, the go-ahead given to GM crop trials and its silence over e-commerce firms “misusing” FDI rules.

Mahajan said his organisation was pained by the BJP government’s decision to retain the UPA policy of allowing foreign retailers to open multi-brand stores with 51 per cent ownership. “The SJM puts on record its pain and disapproval and demands that the government immediately clarify its position, take corrective measures and drop FDI in multi-brand retail from the list of sectors permitted for FDI,” the letter stated.

“This is not the policy of BJP, it was UPA’s policy. BJP has always maintained that it’s a wrong policy. BJP leaders had argued that this would make Indians sales boys and girls; it will shift ownership to the US and manufacturing to China. So, the government should immediately correct it,” he said.

In his letter, Mahajan said SJM was disappointed with BJP’s reluctance to do away with the policy. “People expected that your government will roll back the anti-people decision of the previous regime. But it is shockingly painful to note that in an elusive chase of a mirage of satisfying foreign investors, BJP has decided to take blame of U-turn and ensure continuity of the policy of FDI in retail.”

He said: “It is against the trust reposed by way of the people’s unprecedented mandate given to BJP-led NDA.”