Kolkata, Dec 4(ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has refused to comment on the controversy surrounding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail, saying that any official statement on the issue can only be made in the Parliament.
"I had a discussion with Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister) over telephone twice, practically three times I had a talk with her, but officially I cannot announce anything because parliament is in session and official statement will have to be made in Parliament, therefore it is not possible for me to announce it outside Parliament, government announcement will be made in Parliament," Mukherjee said while interacting with mediapersons in Kolkata on Saturday.
The Central government had on November 24 approved 51 percent FDI in the supermarket sector, paving the entry of firms such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour into one of the world's largest untapped markets.
The new policy, seen as one of the most important government economic reforms in years, may commit supermarkets to strict local sourcing requirements and minimum investment levels aimed at protecting jobs.
The opposition to the policy has been sparked off by fears of potential job losses among small traders that could heighten popular anger at the ruling Congress party ahead of key state polls next year that will set the stage for the 2014 general election. (ANI)
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Read More: Kolkata | Congress | Mamata Banerjee
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