-The Telegraph   The cabinet today unlocked the retail market for foreign direct investment, braving the Trinamul Congress’s objections but assuring Mamata Banerjee earlier in the day that state governments would have enough leeway to protect the interests of farmers. The most significant of today’s decisions is the clearance to 51 per cent foreign investment in multi-brand retail, which will allow the entry of giants that are already household names in a country...

-The Hindu   Trinamool jumps on Opposition bandwagon, while Akali Dal backs move Cabinet clearance for Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail led to tumult and uproar in Parliament, with both Houses adjourning without transacting any business for the third successive day on Friday. Going by the Opposition's hostile reaction, there is a question mark over smooth conduct of proceedings when Parliament meets on Monday. Communist Party of India Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta has...

-The Telegraph The BJP has slammed the Centre’s move to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, alleging this would destroy self-employment, create monopolies, facilitate foreign takeover of farming units and impair local manufacturing. Sources in the BJP, which has a following among small and medium traders who own the most of the mom-and-pop “kirana” shops, warned that this section would start an agitation as the Centre’s decision amounted to the “Wal-Martisation” of India. The...

-The Times of India   The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given an assurance that as a regulator, it is committed to discharging its legal mandate on any anti-competitive behaviour by potential entrants arising from the government's decision to raise the FDI limit to 51% in multi-brand and 100% in single brand retail. This statement is expected to soothe the nervousness of those with genuine concerns about the adverse competitive implications...

-PTI   Strongly protesting the decision to open up the retail sector to FDI, Left parties on Friday termed the move as “unprecedented” and said the government should have discussed it first in Parliament before taking the decision. “It is unprecedented. When Parliament is in session, a major decision was taken outside Parliament. It has never happened,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters outside Parliament House. “We will not discuss the FDI issue in...