Sonia all for retail FDI , Dhumal against

On a day when Himachal chief minister said the BJP was totally opposed to FDI in retail , Congress chief Sonia Gandhi spoke about the benefits it would bring .

“Allowing FDI in retail will benefit farmers , the BJP is only trying to derail the latest economic reforms of the UPA by opposing it ,” she said in her first election rally Monday in Himachal’s Mandi town .

“FDI in retail will help Himachal farmers improve infrastructure like cold chains and help earn higher returns for their produce ,” the Congress president said .

She brushed aside the Dhumal government’s allegation that the state was being discriminated by the Centre .

Attacking the ruling BJP she said while the Centre had helped Himachal , but the state government had failed to utilise the funds released by the UPA government .

She criticised the BJP in the hill state for not fulfilling its promises .

Talking about FDI in retail Dhumal told reporters here the BJP will oppose this move not only in Himachal but throughout the country .

“We are totally opposed to FDI in retail ,” Dhumal said .

Himachal goes to the polls on Nov 4 , counting takes place on Dec 20 along with Gujarat .