Taking strong objection to TDP government allowing MNCs to set up retail outlets in the State, YSR Congress has said this will badly affect small and pretty traders and is against the State interests.

“TDP has opposed the FDI Bill in the parliament and had participated in a nationwide strike against the FDI in retail sector and Chandrababu Naidu, after assuming power, giving his nod for MNCs to set up retail zones shows his double standards and commercialization of governance,” party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma told reporters here on Friday.

Representatives of Walmart, ITC, Reliance and Chroma have met the Chief Minister and he has given the nod for setting up retail zones and also assured all help through a single desk for expediting the formalities for the commercial activity.

“The reason behind giving the permission in a tearing hurry gives raise to many apprehensions and large sums of money must have changed hands. The very same TDP, which has opposed FDI in the Parliament in 2012 along with BJP, has now taken a U-turn. Such anti-people decisions are against the State interests and are in tune of the mercantile mindset of Chandrababu Naidu,” she said.

Giving permission for retail zones to MNCs is like giving the State of Andhra Pradesh on a platter and the move will affect over five crore small and petty traders, she said.