As the Narendra Modi government is set to complete a year in office, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has written to the Prime Minister saying it is dismayed by the government retaining decisions made by the previous Congress-led UPA regime. SJM slammed the Centre's decision to include 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail saying it is against the trust people have put in the government when they were elected.
In a letter to Modi, SJM's national co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan said the Manch was pained by the BJP dispensation's decision to retain the previous Congress-led UPA' policy of allowing foreign retailers to open multi brand stores with 51 per cent ownership.
Accusing the BJP of doing a-U turn on the FDI issue, the Manch said it was unable to understand the change of BJP'S position after it came to power since in opposition it had firmly opposed the previous dispensation's move and even organised a Bharat Bandh.
"SJM puts on record its pain and disapproval and demands that government immediately clarify its position and take corrective measures and drop FDI in multi-brand retail from the list of sectors permitted for FDI," said the letter.
"People expected that your government will roll back the anti-people decision of the previous regime at the earliest. But it is shockingly painful to note that in an elusive chase of a mirage of satisfying foreign investors the BJP has decided to take blame of U-turn and ensure continuity of the policy of FDI in retail," he said.
"Swadeshi Jagran Manch is dismayed about the news of your government retaining previous UPA regime's decision...It is against the trust reposed by way of the people's unprecedented mandate given to BJP led NDA," Mahajan said.
In the letter, Mahajan recalled BJP's previous opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail as he wondered why the party had changed its position.
"SJM would like to remind that when multi-brand retail was opened for foreign direct investment with a 51 per cent cap in September, 2012, by the then Congress-led UPA government, people of India cutting across party and ideological divisions had reacted in unison against the move.
"BJP, then in opposition, was also at the forefront and was the principal party supporting Bharat Bandh against the move on September 20, 2012. BJP termed the decision... a sin," he wrote.
"We are unable to understand the change that has taken place with the change in government," added Mahajan.
SJM while demanding clarification as to what was the BJP government's position in the matter, said, "SJM puts on record its pain and disapproval and demands that government immediately clarify its position and take corrective steps and drop FDI in multi-brand retail from the list of sectors permitted for FDI."
The RSS body further said that BJP, when in opposition, had also explained its position on opposing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail in various articles published in Kamal Sandesh, the party organ. It had later also reiterated its stand in the 2014 Lok Sabha election manifesto, said SJM.
BJP's position was reconfirmed in its election manifesto, it added.
On foreign investment, the manifesto said that barring the multi-brand retail sector, FDI will be allowed in sectors wherever needed for job and asset creation, infrastructure and acquisition of niche technology and specialised expertise, Mahajan said.
"The manifesto added that BJP is committed to protecting the interests of small and medium retailers, SMEs and those employed by them," he said.
(With additional information from PTI)
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