Ironical it may appear, but as many as eight of the 14 states that agreed to a complete ban on foreign players and domestic corporate heavyweights in retail trade of grocery, fruits and vegetables, are ruled by the Congress and its allies. These states are West Bengal, Kerala, Delhi, Assam, Goa and the smaller north-eastern states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur. According to information available with the department of consumer affairs, 22 states responded to the recommendations of the Parliamentary standing committee on commerce’s nineteenth report on “foreign and domestic investment in retail sector”.