-The Hindu   This is a major step towards providing liberation to farmers, says Sharma Ridiculing claims that opening of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail will lead to displacement and unemployment, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Friday asserted that this bold move would lead to creation of 10 million jobs and billions of dollars in investments during the next three years. Brushing aside the criticism by the Opposition parties,...

-Reuters   Commerce minister Anand Sharma said on Friday that the government's new policy to allow foreign supermarkets into the country would create 10 million jobs over three years, while not affecting smaller, domestic Retailers. The government on Thursday approved 51 percent foreign direct investment in the supermarket sector, paving the entry of firms such as Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour into one of the world's largest untapped markets. The government will have the first...

-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...

-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 Economic Times   With the entry of foreign supermarket players, farmers across India's six lakh villages stand to gain from greater market access, higher profits, better technology and direct linkage with consumers.  "Direct purchase from farms has hugely benefited small farmers like us who were not getting good returns by selling in the local mandi," said Abdul Majid, from Malerkotla in Punjab, who has been selling vegetables from his one-acre farm to...