Thursday, December 29 2005 20:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Dec 29,2005) said it was opposed to any moves to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector and favoured a farmer-centric approach of economic growth.

"We strongly oppose FDI in retail sector of the country, which is a source of livelihood for over four crore people in the country. We are against the idea of a few multinationals ruling the vast retail market here and regulating our needs," party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said while presenting the draft economic resolution, which was later adopted unanimously at the BJP National Convention.

He said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has messed up the economic policies of the country, saying "Policies are prepared under pressure of the Left parties and as a result, development is stalled."

The resolution, following an amendment moved by a member, also included party's demand for a ban on cow-slaughter and also encouragement to cow rearing.

Senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said the Government was excessively focussed on introducing more and more investment in service sector. However, this development is not worth until such growth is balanced by manufacturing sector.

Only opening of call centers will not reflect development of the country. Manufacturing activities are also required for it. Most of the infrastructure projects are delayed, as a result production sector is also hampered in a major way," he said.