Devil's Advocate: Kamal Nath

STRONG VOICE: Kamal Nath says Nandigram issue has nothing to do with the SEZs.

        

Other stories in the section:

'We will convince our Muslim voters of N-deal'

On Devil’s Advocate Amar Singh talks about SP's decision to liaise with Cong.

• Dasmunshi hospitalised in W Bengal, out of danger

Featured Blog

Abhishek Patni

MAULANA MULAYAM AND PERILS OF NUCLEAR DEAL

Featured Slideshows

Kamal Nath: Well, I don’t believe that can be the case because: 1) We are having 25 million people coming to the middle class. We are having 9.2 pc growth with people coming in with more purchasing power. We need more retail. The question is the additional retail, which the country needs, how will it come? Will it come in the organised sector or will it come in the unorganised sector?

Karan Thapar: So the Reliance outlets that have already started are perfectly safe regardless of what outcome the study throws up?

Kamal Nath: Well, there is space for everybody and that’s why we have commissioned the study because I could be wrong. I am not saying I am right?

Karan Thapar: Let’s pause for a moment. Perhaps more likely is that the study will suggest side-by-side, by pointing out that there could be an adverse impact for small retailers, it might also suggest that the entry of large corporates into retail could have beneficial effect for consumers and suppliers. If you get that sort of split verdict, which half of the findings will you give greater priority to?

Kamal Nath: Well, we’ve got to harmonise this. There has to be a balance and on one hand while we need to ensure the interest of the consumer on the other we have to ensure that it doesn’t lead to such displacement, which causes unemployment.

Karan Thapar: Can I point something out? More Indians are consumers than happen to be small retailers. Why shouldn’t you give preference to the consumer interest rather than to the small lobby of small retailers?

Kamal Nath: Well I think consumer has many choices. But the retailer may not have other choice. A consumer can still get his stuff, whether he gets it from the big or the small one.

Karan Thapar: So you have to be politically careful.

Kamal Nath: It’s not about being politically careful. You have to see that at the end of the day it’s incremental.

Karan Thapar: What about then the impact of FDI in retail? Do you believe that the impact of FDI would be both qualitatively and quantitatively different to the impact of large, domestic corporate houses?