FDI in retail will "enslave" India, says Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi, Nov 30: Opposing FDI in the retail sector, activist Anna Hazare said the move would lead to enslavement of the countrymen and will not benefit the farmers as claimed by the government.

"If people are saying it (FDI) should not happen, why are you insisting? The British came to India to trade and for 150 years, ruled us, enslaved us. Do you want to have a repeat?" he told a press conference here this evening.

"They (the foreign investors) will spoil the water and the environment. The government should consider this," he said.

On the claim that farmers will be benefited by FDI in retail, Hazare said, "If it were so, in the 65 years after independence, farmers would not have committed suicides." He said he favoured unanimity among political parties on the issue. "All parties should rise above narrow considerations. There should be no inter-party differences," he said.

PTI