Powell meets Rajnath,pitches for FDI in retail

The US envoy to India is learnt to have offered to make a presentation to the BJP leadership regarding the pullout of NATO forces from Afghanistan,and also pitched for FDI in retail.

US ambassador to India Nancy Powell met BJP president Rajnath Singh,who expressed concerns about the security implications for South Asia after NATO forces are pulled out from Afghanistan next year. “Keeping in mind the proposed withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan beginning in 2014,he (Rajnath) expressed concerns over the evolving security scenario in the South Asian region,” said a press communique issued by the party after Powell called on Singh at the latter’s residence. During the meeting,which was attended by Vijay Jolly,convener of overseas affairs of the BJP,and Sudhanshu Trivedi,political advisor to Singh,the US envoy was learnt to have pitched for FDI in multi-brand retail trade in India. Sources claimed that Singh reiterated his party’s opposition regarding the move.

Interestingly,in what appears to be a reflection of the US courting the BJP in the wake of the next Lok Sabha elections,a delegation of US Parliamentarians,led by Aaron Schock,will meet BJP leaders L K Advani,Rajnath Singh,Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi during their visit to the country between March 27 and April 6.