Sonia's letter over FDI in retail 'crocodile tears': BJP

New Delhi, Feb 6 (UNI) The BJP today termed the letter written by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to the Prime Minister on FDI in retail sector ''crocodile tears''.

Talking to mediapersons, BJP President Rajnath Singh said, ''It was nothing but a new letter diplomacy by Ms Gandhi to fool the people.'' This was the fourth letter she had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, beginning with the one on price rise, diesel prices, farmers suicides and now on FDI in retail sector, he said.

Mr Singh said the people ''knew too well'' that the prices of most of the commodities had gone further up after the Congress president's letter to the Prime Minister over the issue.

She had reportedly expressed concerns over land acquisition for SEZs affecting the farmers but the Union Government was promoting acquiring of farmer's land to develop SEZs, he said.

''It took three to four months for the Government to reduce diesel and petrol prices...Now we are sure that the FDI in retail sector was coming soon,'' he added.

A party spokesman, however, warned that the BJP would take the FDI issue to the people and also raise it in Parliament. From the very beginning the party was against FDI in retail sector.

He also clarified that the party was not against development by way of SEZs but it was against acquiring fertile land for the purpose. ''Enough compensation should be paid for even the barren land acquired for the purpose,'' he added.

UNI