Gaur defends opening up of Reliance Fresh

Bhopal, Sep 3 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Excise Minister Babulal Gaur today defended the decision to allow opening up of Reliance Fresh stores in the state saying it was in the overall interest of growers and consumers.

He parried question about Bharatiya Janshakti Party (BJS) President Uma Bharti giving a 15-day ultimatum for shutting down Reliance Fresh in the state or face ''public action'' saying that it was for the Chief Minister to decide.

''I am no longer Industries Minister and thus it does not relate to me,'' he told newspersons here.

However, he said the concept to set up vegetable retail outlets would adversely hit ''middlemen'' only in vegetable markets and claimed that those opposing it were promoting the interests of these profiteers.

He said the closure of such stores would send wrong signals against the flow of investment into the state.

UNI