Opinion FDI fracas
The editorial A hard sell rightly states the criticism against FDI in retail doesnt hold much water.
FDI fracas
The editorial A hard sell (IE,November 28) rightly states the criticism against FDI in retail doesnt hold much water. Opposition parties are making an emotional appeal to the electorate. The retail sector is closely linked to agriculture. Our agriculture has been languishing. Farmers have been suffering at the hands of middlemen,hoarders and trade syndicates. Consumers bear the brunt of a disproportionate price rise. FDI in retail,with adequate safeguards,will pump money into the cash-starved agriculture sector. The consumer will get quality products at competitive prices. A large number of ancillary industries will come up. But the interests of small enterprises and retailers should be taken into account.
Saurabh Shekhar
Ghaziabad
Gainful reform
THE observation that the FDI in retail story needs to be retold from the consumers and farmers perspectives is spot on (Re-tell retail,IE,December 1). Critics apprehend multinational giants will use predatory pricing to swallow small retailers. Why do they forget India has a fully functional Competition Commission to prevent abusive trade practices? Just as retailers have the right to protest,consumers have a right to demand reforms in retail. Clearly,the current set-up has failed to provide any respite from inflation. The proposal for FDI in retail,framed in the true spirit of federalism,allows for a mother policy,while leaving it to state governments to implement it.
Sudipta Das
Just politics
Opposition from the NDA to FDI in the retail sector is just a political action. In government,the NDAs agenda was to allow FDI in retail. Now they oppose it simply because of political reasons,not any economic rationale. If the government does not sustain its argument now,that will clearly reflect its policy paralysis.
Bhawale B.K.
Aurangabad
Higher & higher
This refers to the editorial Precedence,privilege (IE,December 2). It is utterly shocking that after disallowing Parliament to function normally,MPs are now demanding a higher status for themselves. Their demand for being moved up the Warrant of Precedence is ridiculous. What good are they doing the nation and its people?
R.K. Kapoor
Warned by US
THE US is reported to have warned Pakistan of serious consequences if another terror attack against India originates from Pakistan. At a time when US-Pakistan relations are at their nadir,this is the toughest warning yet from the US to Pakistan. This could also be a warning to China not to fish in troubled waters. There are indications the US is working towards an Asia-Pacific axis,with the US,India,ASEAN,Japan and Australia in military and economic cooperation.
Arun Chandra
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