New Delhi, Dec 8: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said he was confident that FDI in retail will benefit farmers, consumers and the country.
"FDI in retail will introduce new technology and investment in marketing agricultural produce," the Prime Minister said.
He further said that the decision to introduce FDI in retail was strongly backed by farmers organisations in Punjab.
The government on Friday won the approval of Parliament to its controversial decision of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail with a motion against it being defeated convincingly in Rajya Sabha, as BSP voted in favour of UPA.
123 members voted against the motion while 109 voted in favour after a two-day animated debate during which the opposition attacked the proposal to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, while the government strongly justified it saying it was in the best interest of the country.
Samajwadi Party, which has nine members in the House, staged a walkout expressing dissatisfaction over commerce minister Anand Sharma's reply.
The defeat of the motion moved by AIADMK member V Maitreyan in the Rajya Sabha came two days after the Lok Sabha voted out a similar motion, paving the way for entry of global supermarkets like Wal-Mart into the country.
The government's victory in Rajya Sabha, where UPA lacks a majority of its own, came with the help of 15-member BSP, which had walked out of the Lok Sabha during voting on the issue.
The UPA has 94 members in the Upper House, which has an effective strength of 244.
Sachin Tendulkar, nominated member who is playing Test match in Kolkata, Murli Deora (Cong), who is unwell, and rebel BJD leader Pyari Mohan Mahapatra were absent.
