The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the decision to allow FDI in retail is aimed at creating jobs, improving remuneration of farmers and enabling import of technology besides benefiting consumers.

Addressing the concluding session of the two day National Youth Congress Convention in New Delhi yesterday, he strongly defended the decision taken by the government and said the decision will reduce the prices of commodities of daily use.

Dr. Singh said that opening of FDI in retail is a well considered move and has not been taken in any haste. He said that there is no compulsion on States to implement the decision.

On the fears that the small businesses in the country will be hurt by the FDI decision, the Prime Minister said, that the government has put some conditions so that FDI in retail promotes the small industry. Talking about the logjam in Parliament, Dr. Singh attacked the Opposition for lowering the image of the country and said disruption of proceedings amounted to doing injustice with those who have elected the MPs.

He said all differences can be discussed in Parliament and expressed hope of finding a way out of the current impasse through continued efforts.

Referring to the issue of price rise, he attributed it to a variety of domestic and international factors and said the government is determined to deal with it.

He said that the government has taken a series of measures to tame the inflation and hoped it will come down soon.

Addressing the convention Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that the government is committed to eradicate corruption and hoped that the opposition will help in passage of anti-graft measures including Lokpal Bill.

She said together with the Lokpal bill, the government is working on a variety of legislations to systematically fight corruption.