MPs cutting across party lines may be protesting against the decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, but a large chunk of them don't understand the basics of the organised retail business.
A day after the Cabinet approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent in single-brand, many MPs urgently texted each other enquiring about the distinction between the two before they could raise issues like potential employment loss and the damage to the kirana, or small store, business. This is despite the fact that FDI in retail has been a controversial issue for more than a decade.