British Deputy High Commissioner discuses FDI issue with Karunanidhi
Chennai, Dec 3 (ANI)
British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India, Mike Nithavrianakis, met DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi here on Monday and discussed the issue of Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Centre's decision to introduce Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
Speaking to the reporters after the meeting with Karunanidhi, Nithavrianakis said that the two held talks on a variety of issues ranging from FDI in retail and Tamil Nadu's dispute with neighbouring Karnataka state over sharing of the Cauvery river water.
"We discussed a range of subjects, specifically political issues in the state of Tamil Nadu and some national issues like the foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. We talked about some of the regional issues such as the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, some of the issues in Dharmapuri and Kudlore district. Karunanidhi gave me some booklets, some reading material," said Nithavrianakis.
"He also raised with me the recent visit of some Tamil figures to the UK for Tamil parliamentary discussion and clearly Karunanidhi was interested to talk about the Sri Lankan Tamil issue and so we had a range of very useful discussions and we exchanged opinions and views," he added.
Nithavrianakis further said that the British Government, along with the global community, were keeping a close watch on the ongoing tussle between the Central Government and opposition parties over the decision to allow FDI in the retail sector.
"The issue as a foreign country, with significant interest in India, this is a very important reform measure that the government of India has brought forward, so we are watching this issue with great interest because clearly, depending on what happens, it may have an impact on additional foreign investment," said Nithavrianakis.
" British companies, just like other international companies are watching the issue very carefully; but it is an issue for the government of India and for this specific state, if it's passed in the Lok Sabha. So we are watching that with huge interest," he added.