RSS slams BJP’s FDI volte-face

New Delhi: Accusing the BJP of doing a-U turn on the FDI issue, the RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch said it failed to understand the change in the BJP’s position after it came to power as in Opposition it had firmly opposed the move and had even organised a Bharat Bandh on the issue.

“The SJM puts on record its pain and disapproval and demands that the government immediately clarify its position and take corrective measures and drop FDI in multi-brand retail from the list of sectors permitted for FDI,” a letter sent by SJM national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said.

The letter said people expected the BJP-led government to roll back the “anti-people decision” of the previous government at the earliest, but it “is  painful to note that the BJP has decided to take a U-turn and ensure continuity of the policy on FDI in retail”.

The RSS, meanwhile, while giving a thumbs-up to the Modi government on the eve of its first anniversary, said the people were confident about its intent even though the task of fulfilling their expectations remained “gigantic”.

RSS mouthpiece Organiser said in an editorial that the scale of the BJP’s victory in the general election was such that “at the end of the year itself the government is being scrutinised for the delivery parameters meant for five years”.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Sunday demanded withdrawal of the notification on FDI in multi-brand retail. “Contradictory statements of Jaitley and  Sitharaman has created a peculiar situation,” said CAIT.