Chennai: UPA’s second largest partner DMK on Monday demanded reconsideration of the decision to allow FDI in the multibrand retail sector and said it would back any opposition-sponsored resolution that may be brought on the issue in Parliament.
“Allowing FDI in multi-brand retail in the name of economic reforms will spell doom for developing countries like India,” a resolution adopted at an emergency meeting of DMK Executive, chaired by its President M Karunanidhi, said.
DMK, which has 18 Lok Sabha members, said certain states going ahead with the implementation of FDI and some others opposing it will only damage hugely the Indian economy.
“…this executive insists the Central Government to reconsider the decision to allow FDI (in multi-brand retail),” the resolution said, spelling more trouble for the UPA which has been hit by the withdrawal of support on the issue by key ally Trinamool Congress-led by Mamata Banerjee.
Going a step further, Karunanidhi said his party would support an Opposition-sponsored resolution against FDI if it was brought in the Parliament as FDI in retail would have an adverse impact on the people.
“We will,” he said in reply to a question whether the DMK would back the opposition if it brings a resolution in Parliament opposing FDI in retail trade.
Karunanidhi, who has of late been critical of some of the UPA’s decisions including diesel price hike, made it clear that his party would continue to support Congress to keep “communal and regressive forces” from taking any advantage.
The meeting, attended by senior party leaders including his sons M K Alagiri and M K Stalin, came on the day when TMC hit the Delhi streets with a rally against the UPA.
Ahead of the meeting, Karunanidhi had on Sunday ruled out the party nominating representatives to fill two vacancies in the union cabinet caused by the resignation of A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran over telecom scams.
Evading a direct reply on the reason for his party’s reluctance to join the union cabinet in the wake of a possible reshuffle, he said, “the reason is we won’t participate.”
To a question on alliance with Congress, he said differences do crop up, but they are solved through talks.
Asked if DMK had expressed its “contradictory views” at the recent UPA Coordination committee meeting, he said his party representatives had conveyed DMK’s opinions.
He hoped Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would give “further thought,” when pointed out there would be no change in the government’s stand on reforms. (PTI)