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Govt puts FDI on backburner; Parliament resumes work
Stepping back to break the logjam in Parliament, the government on Wednesday put the controversial decision on foreign direct investment in retail on the backburner till a consensus is evolved, a proposal the entire opposition and the dissenting allies accepted without reservation.
Following an all-party meeting convened by him on Wednesday morning, Leader of the House in Lok Sabha and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced in Parliament that the decision of FDI in retail had been "suspended" till there was consensus across the political spectrum on the matter.
During the all-party meet, which included UPA allies Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam which were opposed to the FDI decision, the Opposition agreed to support the resolution and allow Parliament to function.
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Govt puts FDI on backburner; Parliament resumes work
Though this was not exactly what the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties were demanding -- they had insisted on a complete rollback -- the government agreeing that it would try to build a "consensus" virtually means that the FDI decision has been put on the backburner.
"This is a virtual rollback of the FDI decision, so we will allow the House to function. We are more keen than the government that Parliament should function," CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta told media persons after the meeting.
He said the government had an "ego issue" in using the term rollback.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the government had not bowed down before the opposition.
"Process of consultation is important in a democracy and so the government had invited the opposition for this meeting. All parties, the TMC, the BJP and the Left, agreed to the resolution," he said.
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Govt puts FDI on backburner; Parliament resumes work
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the Finance Minister apprised leaders of political parties about the government's decision and that they agreed on that.
He said the parties sought some clarifications which included the ambit of stakeholders that are the states and all political parties. "That was clarified to them after which they agreed to allow the House to function," he said.
CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, "The decision will not be implemented. In future, whatever decision will be taken on the issue, it will be based on a consensus with all stakeholders."
He maintained that the Left had raised the issue of who would be included as stakeholders and insisted on including political parties, states and others involved.
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Govt puts FDI on backburner; Parliament resumes work
"The issue of adjournment motion on price rise and black money will now come. We have asked for an amendment in the motion on black money, by asking for the inclusion of corruption along with the issue of black money," Yechury said.
He said though there was no floor coordination with NDA/BJP, the Left would work together on matters of national importance.
BJP leader Kirti Azad, however, maintained that this resolution does not mean a consensus has been reached with the government on FDI.
"I don't think there is a consensus that has been reached on FDI. But we stand by.... that there is no FDI in retail. That is a stand which is very strong, strongly taken by the BJP, the Left and the opposition and also people from within the government," Azad said.
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