CHENNAI, MAY 8
Instead of playing constructive opposition, the AIADMK and TN BJP unit have started stalling the economic development of the state. BJP-ruled Gujarat, UP and Karnataka had spread red carpet to UAE-based Lulu Group but resisting the same in DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu.
The opposition parties stated that the opening of Lulu malls in the state would severely impact small businesses and traders. State BJP chief K Annamalai commented, “Lulu malls would impact the livelihoods of roadside vendors and small scale shop owners. So BJP will not let this group lay the foundation stone in Tamil Nadu.”
During an official visit to Abu Dubai in March, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lulu Group to implement three major projects in Tamil Nadu at a total investment of Rs 3,500 crore. Two malls are planned to be set up in the state with a Rs 2,500 crore investment, and additionally, an export-oriented food processing project is to be implemented at an investment of Rs 1000 crores.
While the BJP in Tamil Nadu has opposed the Lulu Group’s functioning there, the UAE-based retail giant already has three operational malls in BJP-ruled Gujarat, and had even signed an MOU with the Gujarat government for projects worth Rs 2000 crore last December.
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Further, a Lulu mall is set to be inaugurated in Lucknow in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. While the group has been allowed to set up operations in other states ruled by the party, in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai has said that it will not allow the group to set up a single brick for the mall that is slated to come up in Coimbatore.
The AIADMK has also slammed the ruling DMK over allowing Lulu Group to invest in Tamil Nadu. At the 39th Tamil Nadu Vanigargal Mahajana Sangam on May 5, joint coordinator E Palaniswamy claimed that the party supports small businesses and traders, and urged them to unite against “big multinational companies that would destroy them.”
