FDI in retail is the most high controversial issue that is rare fro both India and foreign nations. As part of this, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who is here under three-day visit went to Kolkata on Sunday to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her opposed fact of FDI.
In the most high-profile meeting on Monday, Ms Clinton will meet Banerjee at the Writers’ Building in Kolkata, discussing the several facts regarding investment opportunities in West Bengal, one of the main Foreign Direct Investment. (FDI). Banerjee resisted FDI policies.
Trinamol is expected to be a big hurdle for US future plans to invest in the Indian market as Last year Banerjee had had blocked FDI bill in Parliament, resisting the UPA government’s plan to bring in FDI in multi-brand retail in the country.
During meeting, one of the major issues Teesta Water Treaty with Bangladesh and US investments in Bengal is likely to be discussed, followed Hillary meeting on Saturday with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Last September, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visited Dhaka and the Teesta water-sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh had to be shelved that was opposed by Banerjee. The deal had also to be left out while the Bengal CM declined to visit Bangladesh with the PM last year.
Banerjee has strongest opponent of the quantum of water to be shared with the neighbouring nation and after her reservation in wake of Bangladesh has more chances to get a better deal than Bengal on water sharing, the Teesta-sharing treaty went into cold storage.
“The Trinamool promised in its election manifesto that it would never allow FDI in retail in the state. I don’t think there will be any change in the party’s political line,” the industry minister told reporters.
In her three nation Asia tour, Clinton chose Mamata, the first such exercise by any US secretary of state, is considered important as Mamata is a regional leader who was one of the 100 most influential people globally.
She will also tour to Beijing and Dhaka that are her last visit of tri-nation South Asia tour. However this is of Hillary’s second visit, in September 1997, she visited to the city as the US First Lady to attend the funeral of Mother Teresa.
Source said, on Sunday, Hillary attended a cultural programme at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and after 40 minutes, she headed for the Victoria Memorial.
Later today meeting, she will head to Delhi after visit the headquarters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charit. In the visit to national capital, her discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also External Affairs Minister SM Krishna during their meeting on Tuesday will expect to be made over civil nuclear cooperation, regional security, Iran and economic development of Afghanistan.
