Devil's Advocate: Kamal Nath

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Keywords: Devils Advocate, Kamal Nath

Kamal Nath: I don’t think ICRIER is prejudiced. It’s got a lot of credibility.

Karan Thapar: There are reports in newspapers that PMO has assured traders that in fact the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion will conduct a separate independent study. Is that confirmed?

Kamal Nath: Well, it is my department - the department of IPP - which has commissioned the study.

Karan Thapar: So this is not a separate study?

Kamal Nath: No.

Karan Thapar: Reports that suggest that it’s a separate study are, therefore, wrong?

Kamal Nath: Absolutely.

Karan Thapar: Many people say that Kamal Nath as minister is very keen to open the retail sector both to FDI and to large Indian domestic corporate houses. But Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister are a lot more cautious. Are the two of you operating on different wavelengths?

Kamal Nath: Not at all. I’ve always said and I maintain that no FDI in retail should dislocate the small retailer.

Karan Thapar: It should be incremental?

Kamal Nath: It should be incremental it should create more jobs…

Karan Thapar: But are you pushing for it at a faster pace than, say, Sonia Gandhi and PM want it to be?

Kamal Nath: I don’t think so because we have not opened it up. And where is the question of large and small? My ministry is not concerned with it. It’s the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

Karan Thapar: So, there are no differences either in principle or in practice between you, Sonia Gandhi and the PM?

Kamal Nath: Not at all. Absolutely not

Karan Thapar: None whatsoever?

Kamal Nath: No. Because none have been opened up.

Karan Thapar: In which case, let’s look for a moment what the study you have commissioned and let’s begin by talking about it in terms of how it would affect that large corporate houses. Many people believe that the study could suggest that the entry of large corporate houses into retail could have a damaging impact, an adverse impact, on small retailers. If that were to be the case, would you move to shut down the Reliance outlets that have just opened up?