'Pesticide controversy not to impact FDI in India' Thursday, August 17 2006 12:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
New Delhi:
In an indirect support to the PepsiCo and Coca Cola in the pesticide-in-cola controversy, the government today said accuracy should be ensured in any of the findings and the issue is unlikely to impact flows of FDI into the country.
"Whenever anything of this sort happens, it makes people think twice. In this case this (impact on FDI inflows) will not happen but we must be very careful about it," Commerce and Industries Minister Kamal Nath told reporters on the sidelines of CII marketing summit.
Asked if the bans imposed by certain states following the outbreak of the controversy were justified, he said, "We must see that the findings are accurate and factually correct and the due process of law should take course. There is no need to act in haste." Nath declined to comment on the blanket ban of production and sale of colas imposed by Left ruled Kerala.
"West Bengal, which his also ruled by Left has taken a diametrically opposite stand to the issue," he added.
He, however, insisted that public health is extremely important.