The economic wing of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has said that to build a US$ 5 trillion economy, the country doesn't need 'bad Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)' from e-commerce giants like Amazon.

Its national co-convener Dr Ashwani Mahajan told India Today TV that 'bad FDI from e-com is hurting millions of traders of the country and the Modi government is following its consistent policy in this regard'.

Refuting the opposition charge that the Amazon chief Jeff Bezos was snubbed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, the SJM co-convener said that earlier even the Walmart chief was denied such a meeting.

He tried to play down ruling Bhartiya Janta Party's (BJP) Foreign Affairs Department In-Charge Dr Vinay Chauthaiwale's tweet flagging Bezos-owned Washington Post's anti-Modi editorial policy.

The SJM defence comes in after a series of tweets by former Union minister P Chidambaram attacking the government for snub meted out to the business giant chief. The Amazon chief has promised a 1 billion dollar investment in India.

Dr Ashwani Mahajan said, "We don’t need Amazon’s FDI to make India 5 trillion dollar economy, if at all we have to achieve this, then it will through our own strength of business and trade."

He further said that the Modi government’s policy vis-a-vis e-com giants has been consistent, "Earlier Walmart CEO on tour of India in 2018 was also denied a meeting with the PM and the then Commerce Minister," he added.

He alleged that e-com giants like Amazon threaten small retailers and are adding to India's economic woes. He further alleged that companies like Amazon, which 'violate FDI norms', are not good foreign investors because they engage in illegal and unethical business practices. "They have repeatedly circumvented the law and are also involved in cash-burning to sell goods at cheaper prices and pushing competitors out of the market," he said.

Dr Mahajan tried to steer clear of the controversy created by Dr Chauthaiwale. "Modi government has been following a consistent policy while dealing with the e-com companies. Óne should not read too much into such statements, articles in Washington Post have nothing to do with government stand on e-com giants like Amazon and Walmart."

Former Union finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram took to Twitter on Thursday to attack the government on the issue. In a series of tweets, he questioned the apparent snub by the Union Commerce Minister to Amazon chief. He tweeted: "Commerce minister snubbing Amazon's Jeff Bezos makes for a great headline in the world's media. The snub will reverse the five successive month decline in Imports and the eight successive month decline in exports. The commerce minister should snub more people to boost imports and exports. Commerce minister first snubbed Nobel winner Dr Abhijit Banerjee. After Bezos, he should snub Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella in order to make India a $5 trillion dollar economy."

Meanwhile, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal issued a clarification. he said, "My statement on Amazon is taken out of context, my view is that there is a provision of investment and laid down norms about e-commerce and this practice is applicable globally."

"If someone is investing, they have to follow the rule/guidelines, there are lakhs of retailers, who are facing unfair competition because of this e-commerce system," he added.

"We need to protect their interest also. Ultimately, they are catering to a large market of the country also," the minister said.