Won’t allow Walmart in West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA — Accusing the central government of "ruining and selling the country" through its economic reforms, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said she will not allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail in her state.

"They allowed FDI in retail, capped the subsidised cooking gas and now they will invest pension money in the share market. By doing this, they want to ruin the country. They want to sell the country to foreigners," Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, said while addressing a public meeting at Tamluk in East Midnapore district.

"They want to snatch your land and livelihood and set up Walmart here. But let me say this. As long as I am here, we will not allow Walmart to enter. We cannot and will not allow anything that jeopardises the interest of common peo- ple," said Banerjee.

Criticising the Congressled United Progressive Alliance for the hikes in diesel and fertiliser prices, she said the central government will have to roll back the hikes.

"Because of the high diesel and fertiliser prices, the cost of farming has gone beyond the reach of farmers. Farmers are the backbone of the country and we cannot allow them to suffer. The government will have to lower the prices," said Banerjee.

"Just because I am opposed to the reforms, which is hurting their interest, a section of the media is spreading canard against us. But they are not gods that whatever they say will be believed by the people," added Banerjee.

Following the ruling United Progressive Alliance's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, the Trinamool Congress withdrew from the Congress- led alliance last month. Expressing unhappiness over the central government delaying environmental clearance for West Bengal’s eco-tourism project at Nayachar in East Midnapore district, Mamata yesterday sought immediate clearance for the project.

Banerjee alleged that the central government was blocking Haldia’s industrial expansion by imposing a ban on industries here citing environmental issues.

The central government has recently accepted the Trinamool Congress government’s decision not to develop the Rs 93,000 crore petro-chemical project at Haldia, proposed by the erstwhile Left Front government.

Banerjee opposed the proposed chemical hub for environmental reasons when former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee mooted the proposal. — IANS