BJP WILL OPPOSE FTA AGREEMENT WITH EUROPEON UNION-RAJNATH SINGH

BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh today said that likely concluding Free Trade Agreement between India and Europeon Union will be stoutly opposed by BJP since it such a one sided agreement  will hold credible question mark on the economic sovereignty of the Country. He demanded that the Government should release negotiating text and impact assesment studies of FTAs particulalrly with EU. He also demanded a comprehensive debate in the Parliament on all FTAs including FTA with Europeon Union. Shri Rajnath Singh was talking to a delegation of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) led by its National Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal which met him today at BJP Headquarters at New Delhi. He firmly said that such a FTA will adversaly affect the trade and Industry as also agricultural sector, labour, pharmaceuticals and will affect the livelihood and business of large number of people in the Country.

Prior to it the CAIT delegation while submitting a comprehensive memorandum to Shri Rajnath Singh stated that all FTA's are presently under scrutiny of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce headed by Shri Shanta Kumar and pending the decision of Standing Committee, the Government is proceeding to sign FTA with EU in utter disregard of Parliamentary practice. The delegation urged Shri Rajnath Singh to take a delegation of NDA to Prime Minister on this issue and apprise him with the factual position.

Shri Rajnath Singh further said that before signing such an agreement, the concerns of the concerned sections must be addressed. He firmly said that on such a serious matter of Free Trade Agreement, the nation's interest should be first and foremost. The FTA with EU will destroy Indian dairy and Pharmaceutical Industry as also the big Industries, MSMEs, labour and agricultural sector will suffer a lot. He asked is it fair to sacrifice our domestic resources in order to allow Europeon Union to control and dominate our economic sectors. He assured the delegation that BJP will stoutly oppose FTA with EU and all possible steps will be takens shortly.

Meanwhile, the CAIT delegation will also meet Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Chairman of Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Shri Shanta Kumar, Chairman of Parliament Standing Committee on Commerce, CPM Leader Shri Prakash Karat and Sita Ram Yechury, CPI Leader Shri A. B. Bardhan, NDA Convenor Shri Sharad Yadav and other leaders and will impress upon them to take this issue with the Government in larger interest of the Country.
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For more details, please contact CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal at +91-9891015165-9310199771.