CPM asks Govt to refrain from FDI in retail.

The CPM on Thursday asked the government to refrain from encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and pharma sector, saying this could affect the commoners directly.

'The ministry is trying to allow FDI in retail. Please don't do that. It also wants to encourage FDI in pharma sector, we ask them not to do so,' Saidul Haque (CPM) said, initiating the discussion on the demands for grants of Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Haque said a large number of people were dependent on the small retail businesses and allowing FDI will have an adverse impact.

On encouraging FDI in pharma sector, he said foreign companies will create monopoly and determine prices of medicines.

He urged the ministry to encourage exports of micro, small and medium enterprises and pay attention to dipping exports of labour intensive handicraft and handloom items.
Shashi Tharoor (Congress) raised the issue of high transaction cost of exports in the country which, he said, was playing as a dampener.

'Our transaction cost is 7-10 per cent of total exports. It needs to be reduced. It is in the range of $ 13-18 billion,' Tharoor said.

He pointed out the decline in exports from Special Economic Zones and asked the government to increase the number of SEZs.

Nishikant Dubey (BJP) attacked the government for cementing trade ties with Pakistan, saying its agencies like ISI are increasing their activities in India.

When Dubey objected to India giving most favoured nation status to Pakistan, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia intervened and said, 'India gave MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 and now Pakistan has initiated the process.'

Kakoli Dastidar (Trinamool) expressed reservations about the prevalent policy on Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
She said the SEZs should not exploit the interests of the workers who are made to work for long hours in small rooms without proper facilities.

She said as far as the West Bengal government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are concerned, they were against exploitation of workers at the cost of achieving targets.

Shailendra Kumar (SP) said the government must work on increasing production to increase exports and efforts should be focussed on encouraging the agriculture sector.

He said the government should not get into the trap of achieving short-term targets and work on long-term policies.

Ramashankar Rajbhar (BSP) also spoke on the same lines and said efforts should be made to encourage the agriculture sector.

Monazir Hassan (JD-U) lamented that the government lacked policies on cottage industry as it was an idea mooted by Mahatma Gandhi.

B Mahtab (BJD) asked the Government to take steps to boost trade between India and Pakistan. Mahatab, who was a member of the Indian Parliamentary delegation visited Pakistan this year, said Islamabad is looking forward for a better trade relations with New Delhi.

Congratulating the UPA government for constructing Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Chandrakant Bhaurao (Shiv Sena) said this will do 'wonders' in the industrial sectors.

Nama Nageshwar Rao (TDP) accused the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh of acquiring thousands of acres of land for setting up SEZs at throw away prices and not investing money for the same purpose.

Ratan Singh Ajnala (SAD), Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD), K Sugumar (AIADMK) and R Thamaraiselvan (DMK) also spoke.

Source : news.in.msn.com