In a significant decision, Aam Aadmi Party Government on Monday withdrew the approval given by the previous Sheila Dikshit dispensation to FDI in multi-brand retail in Delhi, its first major reversal of policy.
Delhi’s Industry Secretary Amit Yadav told PTI that the city government has communicated its decision to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) of the Union Government.
“We have written a letter to the DIPP withdrawing the consent given by the government in July, 2012 on allowing multi-brand retail trade,” he said.
The previous Congress government had taken a number of steps to remove bottlenecks in attracting FDI in multi-brand retail. It had even announced making amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act to allow direct connectivity between retailers and farmers.
As per the existing provision, farmers cannot sell their produce directly to retailers as it has to be routed through the mandis operated by APMC.
Ms. Dikshit had been strongly backing the Centre’s decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.
As per the FDI policy approved by the Cabinet, the final authority for granting trade licence rests with the states under their respective Shops and Establishment Acts.
States which had supported the Centre’s decision on FDI in retail includes Maharashtra, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Assam — all ruled by the UPA then.
As per Centre’s decision, foreign retailers will only be allowed to set up shop in cities with over one million population.
Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party had in its manifesto opposed the policy of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail.
Bureau Report
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