Sonia's letter to PM on FDI does not undermine authority: Cong

New Delhi, Feb 7 (UNI) Confirming that Congress President Sonia Gandhi has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to do a thorough review of the proposal to allow FDI in retail, the party today rejected suggestions that the move undermines the government's authority.

Ms Gandhi had written to Dr Singh, suggesting that the government first put in place ''all possible safeguards'' before allowing full-fledged FDI in retail, Congress Spokesperson Abishek Singhvi told reporters.

He, however, rejected interpretations that a ban had been effectively placed on the entry of FDI in retail or that Ms Gandhi had questioned the authority of the Prime Minister.

''We want to make it clear that to see this letter as a ban on FDI in retail is as wrong as allowing such FDI without any safeguards for protecting the interest of the nation and of the common man,'' Mr Singhvi said.

The Congress President had every right to be the ''first entity'' to caution the government against possible monopolisation of the supply chain or any other activity relating to retail trading, he said.

Asked why the party was against the joint venture proposal of Wal-Mart and Bharti Enterprises on retail trading when Reliance Retail and other Indian companies which had entered the business were able to sell essential commodities at cheaper rates to the common man, the Congress spokesman said these were the micro details which the government would take into account while finalising the safeguards.

He, however, would not say when the letter was sent by Ms Gandhi, nor would he explain the need for putting her views in black and white when she has been in constant consultations with the Prime Minister.

The Centre has already allowed 100 per cent FDI in single brand retail and permitted Indian companies to do retail business.

UNI