The Newshour Versus: The fight for FDI - Part 1 of 2
- 12 years ago
In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists -- Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, MP, Rajya Sabha, Congress and Ravi Shankar Prasad, Deputy Leader of Oppn, Rajya Sabha & Chief Natl, BJP -- discuss the issue of Govt giving clear signas that it go ahead with implementing FDI in retail.
Congress on Sunday (Nov 4) gave clear signals that the UPA Govt will go ahead with implementing FDI in retail. Cong chief Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and Gen Secy Rahul Gandhi at Ramlila grounds conveyed the message that the party was on board on economic reforms. Dispelling any impression about Cong and the Govt having second thoughts on the FDI issue, Sonia Gandhi said that the country needed a large dose of investement, of which FDI is a part, to boost growth and employment. Lauding the stewardship of the PM at a time when the world was witnessing economic distress, she said that India has fared much better than many other countries and the Govt has to provide jobs for 80 to 100 lakh youth who enter the job market every year. Rahul Gandhi said that the Oppn is opposing the measures taken by the Govt without any thought. Making a strong pitch for FDI in retail, Rahul Gandhi said BJP, when in power, had sought to bring in foreign investment without adequate safeguards while UPA has taken strong measures to protect the interest of farmers. Accusing the Oppn of spreading misinformation regarding policy initiatives taken by UPA, PM said reform measures, including FDI in retail, will benefit the common man and create more jobs. Defending the opening up of multi-brand retail to foreign investment, he said suggestions that this will harm farmers were "wrong". CPI(M) attacked Cong for defending the UPA Govt's 'neo-liberal' reform measures including FDI in retail, saying the speeches at rally reflected "a chilling lack of any remorse" at the hardships faced by the people.
Congress on Sunday (Nov 4) gave clear signals that the UPA Govt will go ahead with implementing FDI in retail. Cong chief Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and Gen Secy Rahul Gandhi at Ramlila grounds conveyed the message that the party was on board on economic reforms. Dispelling any impression about Cong and the Govt having second thoughts on the FDI issue, Sonia Gandhi said that the country needed a large dose of investement, of which FDI is a part, to boost growth and employment. Lauding the stewardship of the PM at a time when the world was witnessing economic distress, she said that India has fared much better than many other countries and the Govt has to provide jobs for 80 to 100 lakh youth who enter the job market every year. Rahul Gandhi said that the Oppn is opposing the measures taken by the Govt without any thought. Making a strong pitch for FDI in retail, Rahul Gandhi said BJP, when in power, had sought to bring in foreign investment without adequate safeguards while UPA has taken strong measures to protect the interest of farmers. Accusing the Oppn of spreading misinformation regarding policy initiatives taken by UPA, PM said reform measures, including FDI in retail, will benefit the common man and create more jobs. Defending the opening up of multi-brand retail to foreign investment, he said suggestions that this will harm farmers were "wrong". CPI(M) attacked Cong for defending the UPA Govt's 'neo-liberal' reform measures including FDI in retail, saying the speeches at rally reflected "a chilling lack of any remorse" at the hardships faced by the people.