M A I N   N E W S

Agro-scientist MS Swaminathan not impressed
Vibha Sharma/TNS

New Delhi, November 28
It is not just political parties that are unhappy with the way the government has gone about the business of opening up FDI in multi-brand retail, dissent against the controversial move has now come from one of the most respected names in Indian agriculture, MS Swaminathan.

Sounding a word of caution, the noted agronomist, who led the Green Revolution in India, told The Tribune that he was “not at all happy” with the way government had tried to push through the decision with “far-reaching consequences” without consulting either Parliament or states.

The political parties are not making a noise without a reason this time, he said on a day when Commerce Minister Anand Sharma again tried to placate those raising the voice of dissent within the Opposition, UPA allies and a section of the Congress.

There are speculations that the government floated the “FDI balloon” to divert attention from issues like Lokpal Bill, black money and price rise.

As per Swaminathan, “FDI in retail can be a blessing or a curse, depending upon how we handle it. It is a decision with far-reaching consequences affecting around 60 crore farmers and a huge number of small traders in the country. Everyone concerned should have been consulted. The Parliament is in session, it should have been conferred with…states, too, should have been talked to”.

On Akali Dal government’s open support to the Centre’s decision, he says while Punjab’s exuberance can be explained by the fact that MNCs will be investing in post-harvest infrastructure, “the bottom line, however, should be the protection of farmers”.