New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Seven speakers from different parties spoke Tuesday on the FDI issue in the Lok Sabha, kicking off a two-day debate with voting.

The debate will end Wednesday with a vote. If it loses in the voting, the UPA government need not resign but it will certainly be a huge embarrassment.

Here are some quotes :

Sushma Swaraj (BJP, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) : "Small shops, retailers have been wiped out in countries which allowed FDI in retail. About 12 crore people will go out of jobs in India due to the UPA government's decision to allow FDI in retail. PM makes bold statements like if we must go down, we'll go down fighting. You must Mr PM, but fight for the poor, not the rich, fight for country, not multi-nationals, fight for small, not big."

Kapil Sibal (Communications Minister) : "It was decided that retail will only be in cities with over 10 lakh population. There are 53 such cities. After that we felt some states have opposition government. If we separate the states that don't want it, there are 18 cities left...So if FDI in retail will be implemented in only 18 cities, why is the debate happening? This debate is not needed at all, it is a totally political debate."

Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party chief) : "As far as FDI is concerned, how much so ever you explain, it is not in favour of the country. We are speaking for the people, it is not in favour of the country. Thirty crore people will be unemployed. If this was good and beneficial, why is America in trouble? Why are people unemployed there?"

Dara Singh Chauhan (Bahujan Samaj Party): "Poor people are anxious over the impact this policy can have on their lives. They fear the multi-national companies will take away their livelihoods. The government should not rush with it."

T.K.S. Elangovan (DMK) : "I am not telling this as an opponent, but telling this as your brother. I don't want to put you (government) for a whole-body scan as opposition, but it (FDI in retail) is definitely not in interest of the trading community. "We were the first party to oppose FDI, but we don't want to oppose you. We have done many good things for the country together, something may not be in favour of the country, but we don't want to oppose you."

Basudeb Acharia (Communist Party of India-Marxist): "The government is giving dreams of employment (from FDI).. There is 0.8 percent growth in employment in the country and unemployment is rising, there is an economic slowdown... If Wal-Mart gives one employment, it will snatch 17 employments."

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow Taaza News on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)

Flag Bookmark Tweet