Indian opposition protests govt. economic reforms

PanARMENIAN.Net - Angry Indian opposition parties protested on Saturday, Sept 15, against the government's decision to open the country's huge retail market to foreign retailers, The Associated Press reports.

The government's surprise announcement Friday that it will allow foreign investment in retail and aviation and the sale of minority stakes in four state-run companies evoked sharp criticism from opposition parties and some of the ruling Congress party's coalition allies. A day earlier, the government announced a hike in the price of diesel fuel.

Hundreds of supporters of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party held a rally in New Delhi demanding that the government reverse its decisions, saying they would hurt the poor.

Shouting "Down with Manmohan Singh's government" and "Roll back the diesel hikes," angry protesters climbed over barricades erected by police on the road.

They burned an effigy symbolizing what they called the "corrupt government" before dispersing.

In Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state, the top elected leader, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, led a large rally protesting the government's economic reform policy.