-The Economic Times   The Centre came down heavily on states that are opposing foreign investment in multibrand retail for not making their point when the policy was being formulated and said those opposed had the powers to stop companies from opening stores in their boundaries.  Some state governments, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, have opposed the government's proposal to allow 51% foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail and blasted the Centre...

-The Telegraph   Trinamul Congress members today carried placards inside Parliament denouncing the decision to let foreign players enter the multi-brand retail market, snubbing the government’s efforts to get ally Mamata Banerjee’s party on board. It was the first time since the FDI row erupted last week that party MPs waved placards that read “FDI hai hai” as they stormed the well of the House demanding that the government roll back its decision. According...

-The Economic Times   The local panchayat adjacent to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant has passed a resolution against the project, making things difficult for the state government caught between the rational to commission the nuclear power plant and protest in south Tamil Nadu against it. The panchayat's decision is considered a setback for the Centre's desire to have the plant commissioned at the earliest. The development adds to Tamil Nadu chief minister...

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee may be right in pushing for FDI in retail because reports have been pouring in, indicating that the economic downturn in India and abroad will worsen in coming weeks. 'I want money,' an agitated Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee reportedly told the Cabinet on Thursday, November 24, when coerced by colleagues from his Congress party for pushing 51 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in retail. The FDI issue is...

-The Economic Times   The row over opening up of the retail sector escalated on Monday with Congress' Kerala unit backing the rollback demand of 12 Opposition-controlled state governments and UPA allies DMK and Trinamool Congress.  The fissures within the ruling alliance and the potential of the issue to bring disparate Opposition groups together saw Congress president Sonia Gandhi intervening to cut political losses for her party. Sonia, who held consultations with Prime...