BSNLEU ,CHQ calls upon the branches to hold protest demonstrations on 01.12.2011 against FDI in retail trade.

Recently Govt. of India has taken a decision to allow FDI in multi brand retail, coming in the wake of various other decisions relating to the anti-people neo-liberal Agenda, like the scuttling of Universal PDS, so called cash transfer on food account etc. This decision will pave the way for and preparatory to the game plan of handing over of the food economy and its distribution to the corporate and foreign traders with the Govt abdicating its responsibility.

Such a crucial policy decision has been taken by executive order while the Parliament in session and this retrograde decisions trampled underfoot the unanimous recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of not allowing FDI in Retail Trade made in 2009.

Govt.’s decisions are also aimed at obliging the Multi National Companies who along with their collaborators in India have been demanding this for a long time. Govt. of India is trying to convince the people with dubious claims of millions getting new employment opportunities, benefits to Agricultural producers and also of curtailing price rise. In fact FDI led corporate Retailing is going to kill much more employment than it may create besides expanding MNC-grip on the agricultural economy, the food economy in particular.

In view of above BSNLEU, W.B. Circle endorsed the programme and requested to Branch/SSA unions to organize massive protests against this anti-people move of the UPA Government and also extends support to the small traders and others who are opposing this retrograde decision.

Foreign direct investment in retail will:

• Allow massive, multinational corporations, to buy Indian retail businesses and open new ones, forcing thousands of local businesses and kiranas to close
• Push down wages across the economy
• Destroy our indigenous and unique cultures
• Take money out of local economies and send it to multinational corporations.
• Reinforce caste and regional economic disparities
• Do tremendous damage to our natural environment

SAY NO FDI IN RETAIL TRADE