Indian Government would take the final call on FDI in retail only after knowing the decision of all Federal CMs of the Country. According to Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, some Chief Ministers havenot responded on this issue which is delaying the whole process.
Sharma said he would like all chief ministers to state their views on this issue before taking a final decision.
“Since our country is a union of states, we abide by its federal character and, therefore, are bound by the consensus on the issue,” Sharma said.
Asked if the Punjab government had made its stand clear on the issue, Sharma said that state had not commented on it yet.
The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab had first welcomed FDI in retail sector but later changed its stand and started opposing it.
Gujarat chief secretary AK Joti has said that the state hasn’t taken a decision so far. “I will convey the government’s decision to the Centre when it is taken,” he said.
Bihar’s deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, who is also the state’s finance minister, told ET that the state is unlikely to change its stance on the policy and will oppose any move to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.
“Bihar is a poor state. We have a lot of small traders and poor farmers. Nitish Kumarji (chief minister) has in the past said he is against the policy. And I don’t expect the state to take a different stand now,” Modi said over the phone from Patna. “We will oppose the move as we did in the case of the SEZ Act,” he added.
West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee is already opposed to any FDI in Retail Sector and is quite unlikely that she would change her stance.