India has approved long-awaited proposals to open up the retail market to global supermarket chains. Food Minister KV Thomas said the cabinet has agreed to 51% foreign ownership of multi-brand retail stores, allowing groups like Wal-Mart and Tesco to open stores. Such operators currently can only sell wholesale in India and not directly to customers. A decision on the issue has been pending for two years. Mr Thomas told reporters that the cabinet decided...

-PTI Government decision to allow FDI in retail saw uproar in both Houses of Parliament, with ruling UPA ally Trinamool Congress leading the charge and the entire opposition joining them. Soon after Speaker Meira Kumar condemned the attack on agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress members rushed near the well of the Lok Sabha demanding cancellation of the decision of the Union Cabinet to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail...

-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 Hindustan Times   After losing the first week of the winter session in Parliament to disruption, the government is bracing for more opposition salvo next week as the Left parties and the BJP are mulling adjournment motions on Monday against the Union Cabinet's decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. On Friday, the two Houses could only condemn the attack on agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. Trinamool Congress, key ally of...

Antony, Jairam and Virbhadra say it will hit small retailers badly The United Progressive Alliance government pushed through the proposal to permit 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and 100% foreign equity in single-brand trading on Thursday, in the face of vigorous protests not just from the Opposition and ally Trinamool Congress (TMC), but also disquiet in a section of the Congress. Following up on this, the Congress Core Group met here on...