This Article is From Oct 09, 2012

BJP, Left to come together against FDI in multi brand retail

New Delhi: The BJP and the Left will once again share the stage today to protest against the government's decision to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand detail retail.

BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and CPM MP Basudev Acharya will attend a meeting in the capital held by prominent leaders of farmers, hawkers, small industries transporters and trade unions.

Today all eyes will also be on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati when she addresses a rally at the Ramabai ground in Lucknow.  She has kept both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) guessing on BSP's stand on the FDI in multi-brand retail issue.

Last month, the top rung of every major political party led protests in Delhi gainst the government's decision.

Back then, the BJP and the Left had called for a nationwide strike and had shut down states where the Congress was not in power.

Key ally Mulayam Singh Yadav, had joined Left leaders in their protest near Parliament, and then accompanied them to a police station nearby to court arrest - a symbolic gesture.

Mr Yadav emerged from the police station surrounded by commandoes, holding hands with the CPM's Sitaram Yechury. Walking besides him were leaders like AB Bardhan and D Raja of the CPI, Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and HD Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular).

However, unfazed by the strong opposition even from allies, the government has made it clear that the decision will not be rolled back as it is in the interest of farmers and consumers.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address a rally in New Delhi on November 4 to counter the opposition offensive against FDI.


(With agencies inputs)


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