Press Release
The
Socialist Party strongly opposes the tactics of the UPA government attempting to
garner the support of the opposition leaders in support of 51% FDI in retail
sector. P.M.’s dinner diplomacy is one such tactics. The Socialist Party terms
P.M.’s dinner as mrityu bhoj of the
hard working poor people whose lives have perished or are destined to perish by
such decisions. The Socialist Party strongly condemned this insensitive act of
the P.M. The UPA government, adhering to its neo-liberal policies, has been
bent upon implementing this decision in favour and benefit of foreign
multinational retail chain companies at the cost of retailers and farmers of
the country. It would be disastrous not only for the retailers and farmers of
the country but also for the cultural ethos of the Indian society.
The UPA
government was forced to withhold the decision, announced in November end last
year, following united and stiff protest by the non-Congress political parties
and trade union bodies. However, the Congress-ruled states’ chief ministers and
the Union Commerce and Industry minister, Anand Sharma, were running pole to
pillar to garner support of non-Congress chief ministers for the immediate
implementation of the decision. The Congress and the champions of the decision
are giving the same untenable arguments in favour of FDI which have been
refuted by the experts and concerned citizens in the debate raised after
announcement of the decision. For example, if cold storage/refrigeration is
necessary to preserve fruits and vegetables, as argued by some Congress
leaders, this does not call for foreign assistance. It can, obviously, be well
accomplished and arranged for by India on her own.
In fact,
this decision has been taken under the pressure of the foreign and Indian
corporate lobby. In early May, the US Foreign Secretary Mrs. Hillary Clinton
visited India with this agenda at top priority. Mrs. Clinton has served on
Wal-Mart board as its director for six years. West Bengal chief minister Mamata
Banerjee, had expressed utmost resentment against the decision. That is why
Mrs. Clinton went to Calcutta first to meet, praise and appease Mrs. Banerjee.
The Indian MD of the French retail giant Carrefour called on Commerce and
Industry Minister Anand Sharma and raised the issue of allowing FDI in retail
at the earliest.
In view
of this descending danger, the Socialist Party held a day-long dharna at Jantar
Mantar on 28 May 2012 against the government’s decision and submitted a
memorandum to the President requesting her to advise the government to scrap
the decision conclusively. The Socialist Party also sent a letter to all
non-Congress office bearers and chief ministers requesting them not to
implement this anti-people and anti-national decision in their states. Further,
the Socialist Party observed Quit India day as ‘No to FDI’ day in Delhi and
other cities of the country. The party also participated in the Bharat Bandh of
20 September and organised a protest march in Delhi and other cities. The Socialist
Party expressed appreciation for the stand taken by Trinmool Congress’s leader
Mamata Banerjee for her opposition to the decision.
The Socialist
Party would like to emphasise again that the ‘loss-benefit’ discussion that
goes in mainstream media and ruling circles on this issue has no meaning. It is
for the benefit of the multinationals
such as Wall Mart, Carrefour, Tesco and the ruling elite of India. The 4 crore
retailers with their 20-25 crore family members will be the losers from the beginning
to the end. Country’s farmers will also bear the brunt of the decision. The
already critical state of unemployment would be worsened further.
The
Congress has thrown away all Constitutional and moral responsibilities meant to
help the nation. The ‘godess of renunciation’ Sonia Gandhi and ‘demigod of
honesty’ Man Mohan Singh have come out in their true colours. Those who claim
to be the champions of socialism and social justice, such as Samajwadi Party,
Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Janshakti Party, Dravid Munetra Kazhgam
etc., have been playing the game of hide and seek from the very beginning at
the cost of the vulnerable sections of our society who trusted them and made
them powerful. It is the most unfortunate act on their part that, now, they are
gorging mrityu bhoj, offered to them
by the P.M. in the name of dinner diplomacy.
In case
this dinner diplomacy fails, the country may see the repeat show of the
Parliament Session in which Indo-America Nuclear Agreement was passed! Or, the
P.M., who is ever ready to sacrifice himself at the alter of neo-liberal
reforms, can dissolve the Parliament with the good hope to come back again with
the support of the U.S.
The
Socialist Party appeals to parties who truly oppose this decision to come
together and force the government to scrap it for ever. The party also appeals
to the various trader bodies in the country to oppose and defeat this move of
the UPA government. The party further appeals to citizens who believe in the Constitutional
sovereignty and socialism to come forward unitedly and decisively against this
neo-liberal onslaught.
Dr. Prem
Singh
General Secretary/Spokesman 
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