Opposition parties belonging to the National Democratic Alliance and Left parties on Wednesday said that they would “resist” if retail giants such as Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour open their outlets in the country.

Addressing a press conference organised by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United) and the CPI said the protests would now be taken to streets as the Opposition’s motion against foreign direct investment in retail had failed in Parliament.

CPI veteran A.B. Bardhan said the next stage of resistance would be organised against the retail giants once they open their shops in India.

“We will resist when they start their operations here,” he said.

The CAIT has been arranging a platform for the NDA and the Left parties in opposing FDI in retail, CAIT’s Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said, and added that traders from across the country would demonstrate in front of Parliament on March 7.

He said CAIT would meet all Chief Ministers urging them not to allow retail outlets by foreign companies in their States.

BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi said his party would fight until the Government revoked its decision to allow FDI in retail.

“The Government is penalising the poor for its own mistakes,” Joshi said. He urged the Government to divulge the details of Walmart’s alleged lobbying in India to get the decision passed by the Cabinet and Parliament.

NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav said the decision on FDI was bound to fail as the country had no mechanism to improve its internal strength.

jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

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