NEW DELHI, Nov 14:
Government was today bracing itself for an opposition onslaught in the Parliament session beginning next week over the issue of FDI in retail on which a number of opposition parties have given motions entailing voting in the Lok Sabha.
The decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, which was announced in September, does not require Parliamentary approval because it is an executive action but if the opposition comes together and have their motions adopted in Parliament, it will be a moral defeat and an embarrassment for the UPA.
To add to Government’s discomfiture, sulking ally DMK declined to disclose its stand on how it would vote either on such motions or a no-confidence motion, which is likely to be moved by erstwhile UPA constituent Trinamool Congress.
At present, the Government enjoys the support of about 265 MPs, including 18 of DMK, in a house of 545. With the support of Samajwadi Party (22) and BSP (21), the backing for the ruling coalition goes a little over 300, which is comfortable over the required 273 in Lok Sabha.
BSP and SP together or individually have not shown signs of withdrawing support so far.
The Left parties tabled a motion that will seek a vote on the subject while the main opposition BJP, its ally JD(U) as also Trinamool Congress, which parted ways with the UPA few months back on the issue, have also given notices.
Those from the opposition who have given notices include Shatabdi Roy (TMC), Ramesh Bais, A T Nana Patil, Hansraj Ahir (all BJP) and Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U).
DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s remark in Chennai that his party’s stand on the FDI issue is a “suspense” raised the political temperature.
The support of DMK, the second largest group in UPA with its 18 MPs in Lok Sabha, is crucial for the UPA in case of a voting on a motion.
To persistent queries on why DMK was maintaining suspense on the FDI issue and whether it would support a no-confidence motion against the Government, Karunanidhi, also a well-known screenplay writer, said: “I have written the script for more than 100 films. A film would be successful only if it has suspense.”
When asked whether DMK would support Left and some other parties’ proposed resolution with provision for voting in Parliament on FDI, he said the party’s views would be made known after consultations with Parliamentary Party members.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram has had a significant meeting with Karunanidhi on Monday though what they discussed has not been officially disclosed by either side.
Meanwhile, acting on a joint decision of four Left parties on Monday, the CPI(M) today said it has submitted notices in both the Houses seeking a discussion on the issue under rules entailing voting.
“In both the Houses, the CPI(M) members have given the notices and we wish to take this up for a proper discussion under rules which will entail voting,” senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters.
“Any such decision (allowing FDI in multi-brand retail) will have to be endorsed by Parliament and the Government should not go behind the cover of saying that this is an executive decision,” he said.
He said the Government should take into account Parliament’s decision if it wanted to go ahead as it was “supreme in our constitutional scheme of things.”
While Yechury signed the notice in Rajya Sabha, his senior party colleague Basudeb Acharia sent the notice in Lok Sabha seeking that the two Houses reject the Government’s decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.
The decision to move such motions was taken at a meeting of the top-brass of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc here on Monday.
BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “BJP will strongly oppose the Government decision on FDI in multi-brand retail in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament. This decision is not in the interest of the country.”
Prasad announced that BJP will discuss its strategy with other NDA partners and also get in touch with political parties which have reservations on the issue.
The NDA allies are likely to hold a meeting on November 21, a day before the winter session begins.
“We would like to put the Government on the mat on this issue. In November 2011, the then Finance Minister had announced in the Lok Sabha that a decision on FDI in multi-brand retail will be taken only after consulting all concerned sections. A similar statement was made by the then Commerce Minister in the Rajya Sabha,” Prasad said.
BJP charged that this promise has been violated by the Government as it has taken the decision unilaterally. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel