Govt to stick to decision on 51% FDI in retail

Charging the opposition for its plans to drag the decision on FDI to Parliament, the government said sensationalism over the last few years has caused enormous damage to India’s image and hoped the enthusiasm of foreign investors would now be bolstered by the recent firm decisions. Commerce Minister Anand Sharma yesterday made it clear that there will be no going back on allowing 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail as it is a decision cast in stone and said the government is ready to face any challenge over it in Parliament. Speaking on board the PM’s special aircraft the Commerce Minister asserted that a government cannot be expected to have vetting of its policy and endorsement of executive decisions either by ideological opponents or those who have a partisan agenda