BJP parliamentary board to meet on Nov 20 on FDI issue

BJP parliamentary board will finalise its strategy for opposing FDI in retail in the coming winter session of Parliament at a meeting on November 20.

"The BJP parliamentary board will meet on November 20 under the chairmanship of L K Advani in Delhi to fine-tune its strategy as to how to derail FDI in retail in Parliament during its winter session," party senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu said.

It will hold consultations with the NDA allies and other political parties opposed to FDI in retail to compel the UPA government to withdraw its decision to allow multi-national companies set up shops in the retail sector in the country, he said.

Asked about BJP's stand on the notice served by the Left parties to seek discussion on the issue in Parliament under Rule 184 which entails voting, Naidu said his party did advocate such action but would take decision at an appropriate time.

BJP, he said, was for taking all political parties along with it in Parliament on the FDI issue and ensure that voting was made mandatory during debate on the issue under relevant rules of the House.

Claiming that all mainstream political parties, barring Congress were opposed to FDI in retail which would cause about five crore traders to be unemployed, he said the UPA government is a minority government and "as such has no right to take important decisions having wide ramifications for the country and its people".

"In any case the UPA government has been reduced to minority after Trinamool Congress withdrew support to it on the FDI issue and must pass the litmus test in Parliament on it," he said.

Naidu charged UPA government with unilaterally deciding on FDI in retail and not consulting its allies.

He also accused the Centre of going back on its commitment to take Parliament and other stakeholders into confidence before going ahead with its decision on FDI in retail as said on the floor of the House by the then Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Minister Kamal Nath.

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