BJP politician Uma Bharti today threatened to set on fire a Wal-mart store wherever it opens in the country to register her party's protest against allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.
"By giving permission to Wal-Mart to directly invest in the retail sector, the Centre has jeopardised the employment opportunities of Dalits, the poor and the backward," she told reporters here.
"I would personally set afire the showroom when it opens anywhere in the country and I am ready to be arrested for the act," Bharti said, condemning the decision of the Union cabinet to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and 100% in single-brand retail.
She said she had apprised BJP president Nitin Gadkari of her plan of action.
Meanwhile, commenting on her remarks, CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta in New Delhi said, "This is crazy talk... this is not the way... Having been a member of Parliament, can she speak like this?"
Bharti also ventilated her strong displeasure against prime minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and accused them of "shedding crocodile tears" in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and expressing "fake anger".
"I too feel angry at the central and state governments," she said.
If Rahul was really concerned about the plight of Dalits, the poor and the backward, he should ask the prime minister to prevent the arrival of Wal-Mart, she said.
"Economic liberalisation has snatched the employment opportunities of about 90% of the poor people and benefited only 10%," Bharti said.
