FB not to allow M A group to go ahead with agri retail chain

Kolkata, Apr 16(UNI) Even as Reliance Industries served a legal notice on the West Bengal Government over the proposed agricultural retail chain, Left Front partner Forward Bloc today reaffirmed that it was determined not to allow the Mukesh Ambani Group to go ahead with the project.

" There is no question of allowing Reliance purchasing directly from farmers... our stand is final...we can not put at risk the future of farmers and small traders in the hands of big business groups--Indian or foreign," Forward Bloc state Secretary Ashok Ghosh said.

His comments came few hours after West Bengal Agricultural Marketing Board, an autonomous agency under the Agricultural Marketing Ministry, held by the Forward Bloc, refused to hold talks with Reliance officials and asked them to give a 'written prayer'.

Alleging that retail business in agricultural products would create monopoly for a particular business house, Mr Ghosh said it would simply wipe out small traders from the market.

Minister in-charge of Agricultural Marketing department, Mortaza Hossain said: " We have a huge potential in agri-products marketing, but if a company like Reliance enters the sector it will seriously affect the interest of farmers." Alleging that the Reliance issue was not discussed in the Cabinet Core Committee, the party had already sent a note to the Left Front Committee virtually accusing Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee of keeping the partners in dark on such a major decision.

The RSP, another key Front partner, has also voiced its opposition against the venture to give a shot in the arm of the Forward Bloc.

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