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The government bought some time with Leader of the House in Lok Sabha and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee telling the meeting that he would take the views of the Opposition to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet since the FDI decision was taken by the Cabinet.
“The Opposition parties agreed with this suggestion,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said after the meeting. It now remains to be seen what internal permutations the Cabinet arrives at to find a mutually acceptable formula on the FDI issue.
After the meeting, Mukherjee said he would also talk to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to decide how best to resolve the impasse in Parliament.
Mukherjee said Opposition leaders have suggested a rollback of the decision and a discussion in Parliament on the issue under an adjournment motion.
“I informed them (Opposition leaders) that I will talk to the leadership -- Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. You will come to know the government's decision,” he told reporters here.
Referring to his meeting with them earlier in the day, Mukherjee said, “They have given various suggestions. One of their suggestion is you roll back... another suggestion has come that this should be discussed under an adjournment motion.”
Meanwhile, Parliament was on the boil for the sixth consecutive working day on Tuesday with the Opposition determined to scuttle all business till a decision was reached on FDI. After an initial adjournment till noon, both Houses were later called off for the day.
The hour-long meeting held in Parliament House failed to resolve the logjam in the two Houses as Opposition parties, led by the BJP and the Left, stuck to their stand and demanded rollback of the decision taken unilaterally by the Cabinet last Thursday. Even UPA allies Trinamool and DMK, along with SP and BSP, which lend outside support, demanded the decision be revoked.
DMK told the government to “shelve” the decision while TMC demanded a rollback. “We have demanded a rollback of the decision. We have been demanding a meeting of UPA partners should be held every three months. Such matters should be discussed with UPA partners,” TMC leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay said.
SP spokesperson Mohan Singh insisted that “without the government withdrawing the FDI decision, Parliament cannot function smoothly”.
To placate the Opposition, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had yesterday said retail companies would be asked to compulsorily source 30 per cent of their requirement from domestic micro and small industry. “We have consciously adopted a model with a distinct Indian imprint,” Sharma had said.
Despite his efforts, it became clear yesterday that the Opposition would not budge from its stand, sending the Prime Minister into a huddle with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to chalk out a strategy on how to blunt the face-off.
BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra also spoke on similar lines at today's meeting, expressing his party's opposition to the FDI decision and demanding it be revoked.
The BJP, which moved an adjournment motion today as well in the Lok Sabha to discuss the FDI issue, said nothing less than a rollback of the decision was acceptable to it.
“The demand of the whole Opposition is that the decision should be revoked. It is clear that America, Britain, France have lobbied for allowing FDI in retail,” BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said, adding this policy will only harm farmers and retailers in the country. “Germany has already thrown out Walmart,” Joshi said.
Left leader Sitaram Yechury said: “We are opposed to FDI in retail as it will have a negative impact. We are also against the government taking decisions in the Cabinet without discussing the matter in Parliament when session is on.”
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The congress party is playing games to escape from discussions on price rise, inflation, rupee value, strong lokpal bill by putforeward the issue of F.D.I. which provide facility to 51% stake in indian market knowingly that the opposition certainly oppose the movement. The congress party knowingly wasting new issue with no discussion with its parterner political parties and claiming that they are having majority membership in parliament which is nothing but cheating the people of india knowingly that they have not securies 50% of voters or even 50% members of their own party. It is clear that the congress party is obstructing to move a motion on voting on discussion. It is also clear that some of U.P.A. supporting parties also against allowing F.D.I. stake in the retail business and afraid of loosing confidence in the house if their supporters also vote against along with others on F.D.I. issue.
When there is a strong opposition is there from every corner of society and political parties for FDI in consumer market , we are unable to understand the mindset of UPA-II, which wants to sell India to foreign Wall Mart etc . For every decision , UPA evades that there is no unanimous decision, on Telangana or woman's reservation bill etc but rigid on this issue and disturbing democracy and direct liable on non functioning of both houses.
Please STOP your drama in the Parliment. Think economical and ecological for the country. No Business is without risk but with no risk and no decisions we will have stillstand and our grand children wont be proud of YOU !
Why blame Opposition when Government does not want the Parliament to function? Priority is discussion on Price Rise, Corruption, Lokpal Bill or FDI in retail. Why government brought out the FDI in retail issue so suddenly and unexpectedly? Is the poverty only confined to 53 cities in India where the government and failed economist PM wants to open Wal-Mart? Whenever PM meets any US President, he comes up with something to sell "Made in USA". Congress is following Gandhi Ji's principles very nicely. Jai Hind.
It is high time the government stops yielding to the opposition parties in all matters. if BJP had given the FDI in retail in its Manifesto and if it is objecting -government should highlight the bluff of BJP and should run the loksabha and rajsabha just like the karnataka and UP assemblies are run. throw out the agitating members and pass resolutions by voice vote. Being kind and soft to terrorists/dacoits would not work - its high time the congress gives TMC only what is due. mamata had never listened to logic in running the railway ministry - now she faces problems from MAOIST - central government should stop supporting her in all these matters- in case of FDI - the state governments have the option of allowing or not allowing FDI in retail - those who do not can stop in their state -let them no stop other states from following the FDI route. after 5 years we will know who is better off.
FDI Foreign Direct Imposition An SC that rules %u2018Bail not jail%u2019 in non-bailable offences involving notoriously corrupt %u2018top businessmen%u2019 and their accomplices, reduces their punishment %u2013 IF proven guilty - to maximum seven years imprisonment, and throws out the door public interest concerns voiced by colleagues in lower courts who continued to oppose their bail and had charged the accused with an offence involving life sentence/ minimum seven years imprisonment. A Chief Justice who, three days later, insists that an %u2018independent judiciary is vital to upholding of rule of law in a democratic country' and %u2018agree(s) with law minister (ex Corporate Affairs) Salman Khurshid that India must avail of all opportunities to chart its place in the global economy%u2019. A govt that, on release of all 2G accused and BJP%u2019s Sukhram, again pushes Parl. for %u2018100% FDI in multi-brand retail%u2019 entailing partnerships with the 2G accused & their accomplices - so that India becomes penniless like Europe & US?
Govt. bought some time to discuss the matter with WTO. Then have decision as per the directives of WTO.
If the MNCs pay their share, these opp parties will shut their mouth. Bcoz they know how much louder they shout, that much honey they will get.
No person with unbiased views and with no self interests will oppose the FDI in retail which is the norm in most of the countries, excepting for the sole consideration of vote bank politics. No country has gone to dogs or become worse because of that. Even a layman knows that when the farmer gets Rs. 2 or 3 for kg. of tomato the customer pays Rs. 20 or 30 and the middlemen swallows the amount in between. Is this the politicians want? To squeeze the Producer and Consumer and pour the profits into middlemen's coffers. FDI is not going to worsen the situation anyway.The citizens of this country is entitled to demand a sincere and plain answer from the people who oppose the FDI.
I am not alone in feeling that the Opposition is playing politics on the issue. The issue is not of FDI in retail but has wider ramifications on the issue of reforms in improving the supply chain & other infrastructure. There is an urgent need for bringing in more competition, reduce the influence of the middlemen and giving what is rightfully due to the producer and the consumer. The present system does not benefit either the consumer or the producer. Consumer continues to purchase on MRP and the producer continues to sell on MSP. So where is the incentive to the producer for using better tools of production? True, there can be excesses but the opposition should demand better oversight and regulation on such issues and play a constructive role. Instead Opposition is trying to play to the gallery and preserve its constituency instead of speaking for the nation. Congress should remain firm on the issue and Rahul and Sonia preferably take the issue to the People, a la Indira Gandhi
The government wants its citizen to save... Then with what logic, is it will to drain out the hard earned income of the people of the nation in the high priced foreign goods?? First let the buying capacity of our people match the price level of foreign products!! Then should we allow free market. Before that, goverment should keep a check. The goods in retail shops are for sure intangible and perishible. So it is not an investment of the people for sure. GOVERNMENT SOULD MAKE FIELD FOR INCOME NOT FOR SPENDING.. May the day not reach when you empty your pocket, buying a purse ($1000= INR 50000),but have no money to keep in the purse!! BEAWARE....