The Union Cabinet’s approval of foreign direct investment in the retail business is certainly not a wise move. Millions of small traders will gradually lose their jobs since they will find it hard to match the quality, price and so on of foreign brands. Business in the Indian retail sector will dampen, sooner or later. Domestically-manufactured products will suffer and people will opt for “videshi” goods since most of the middle class will patronise foreign retail outlets like Tesco, WalMart and so on. The decision to clear this Bill is more skewed towards favouring the corporate honchos than Indian citizens.
Ashok Jayaram, Bangalore
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