kolkata the finance ministrys top adviser on saturday pitched for fdi in multibrand retail on the turf of one of its most rigid opponents but met with a familiar rebuff from a sulking government ally as economic reason tripped once again on political faultlines chief economic adviser kaushik basu made the appeal to mamata banerjee at a bharat chamber of commerce session in the city hoping the politician with an intuitive intelligence would see the benefits of opening up the retail sector to foreign investment the words coming amid speculation that the centre would revive its fdi plan after the presidential poll on july 19 had little effect on the chief minister though at a rally in barasat a few hours after basus appeal mamata reiterated she wouldnt allow fdi in multibrand retail thats our governments policy she said last november the union cabinet had cleared 51 fdi in multibrand retail allowing companies like walmart tesco and carrefour to partner with indian firms and sell to consumers but mamata objected saying the trinamool congress had rejected fdi in its poll manifesto and the arrival of big foreign players would push small retailers and local kirana stores an industry that she said involved five crore people in bengal out of business basu on saturday tried to dispel these apprehensions the chief minister of bengal is against it fdi she is a mature leader if one explains to her i am sure shell realize it will be a winwin situation he said insisting retail reforms would facilitate growth and lift investor mood at a time when the economy was facing a slowdown politicians have an intuitive intelligence if it can be explained to her that it is actually in the interest of farmers of west bengal i am sure she will understand he added basu known for his candid oratory skills went on to say there has to be a political understanding of policies he or she who knows that he or she does not know a lot makes a good politician netas he opined knew their limits when a bridge or aircraft was being built but when it came to policy matters they assume the i know what is best air explaining that bigticket reforms like fdi in retail were the need of the hour as the goods and services tax gst would not happen in a hurry basu said i know the apmc agriculture produce marketing committee act gets in the way but we stand to lose a lot the way we send our food from the farm to retail india must open its retail sector like china the farmer in that country has benefited much consumer prices have only gone down a little the middletrader loses initially in the turbulence but he too will benefit if there is a walmart or carrefour to contend with when these giants come they will do hard bargaining so we need to restrict them to zones in a city