When Mr.Barack Obama passed remarks on deteriorating investment climate in India apparently revealing his dissatisfaction over delay of Indian governement’s decision to allow FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) into Indian open market a few weeks ago, the UPA ruling government started feeling the pinch of Obama’s resentment for not allowing Sam Walton’s Wal Mart grocery retailers into India on one side, and the indirect pressure of some sections of Indians residing in U.S. (holding U.S. Green Cards) and supporters of U.S. on the other side, that finally led to approval by UPA government for permitting U.S.Multinational retailers into India taking a stand in favour of U.S. investments in India.
But this resulted in over whelming resentment of Indian Ration Card holders (Indian middle and poor classes represented by some Opposition parties) on UPA government, claiming the decision to allow FDIs into India is, to hit on the stomachs of the large sections of poor and middle class retailers, business groups and street vendors across the country. The West Bengal Chief Minister Ms.Mamata Benarjee stood on top by withdrawing her support to Mrs.Sonia headed UPA government. Except Communists the rest of the opposition leades in non-congress ruling in the States are moving slowly against the UPA, fearing orders by the UPA government of enquiries on their corrupt activities by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Bharatiya Janata Party is opposing FDIs into country, but not so vehemently like Ms.Mamata. So Ms.Mamata has become a prospective national leader in the view of very large poor and middle class sections across India holding Ration cards. This is only an overt political scenario.
But truly how many Indians are really against the entry of U.S. retailers into India is still dubious. Except opposition political leaders’ hue and cry for political gains, majority Indians do not know what the Foreign Direct Investments are and what could be the pros and cons of it. Non-political intellectuals, acadamecians, media analysts claim that with the entry of FDIs into India past Colonialism would again repeat i.e. entry of American and Western business interests into India and subsequently to protect them, their forces would step in, that what had happened two centuries ago in India.
The a very small section of semi-educated middle classes and other sections of in India holding professional degrees like B.E., B.Tech, MCA, M.Tech and MBA, MBBS, and some other professional degrees who look towards United States for employment purposes are not opposing the FDIs into India, with the fear that they may lose opportunity to enter into U.S. or their stay becomes a problem there. Even though Prime Minister of India Mr.Manmohan Singh tried to convince the nation that entry of FDI will not wipe out the business opportunities and ther very existence, large sections of people are not in a position to believe it. The every day local print and electronic media reports and public opinion reveals that FDIs entry is risky to India and India would gradually lose its Indpendence.
What ever may be the public opinion, the UPA government has enforced its policy decision to permit FDIs into India, and the process will beign in the states where Congress Party is in power in a short time. Despite the initial protests, will Indian middle classes and semi-educated people spread across the country, who are the primary customers for retailers, boycott the the FDIs or not, has to be seen after their entry. Already several middle class English educated sections eagerly waiting for the entry of FDIs for employment opportunities in their shops and retail outlets. Because some sections of semi-educated people, if questioned, wheather they choose between India Rationa Card and U.S.Green Card, they prefer Green Card, because they feel America is a very rich country to live happily – this is the view of many educated people in India. Because many urban living Indians’ family members, friends or other kin and kith live in U.S for Jobs or study purposes. Many Urban and rural educated Indians have a vision and goal to reach America at any cost. Many parents have ambition to send their children to America for studies and employment. But if America itself is coming into India in the form of FDIs, would these sections of Indians support Ms.Mamata Benarjee’s nationalism or UPA governments Internationalism has to be seen in the days to come. By dchaitanya
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