FDI in retail: No consensus at all-party meet

"Opposition is moving with begging bowl in hand for Rule 184," he said.

Insisting that Trinamool is "totally against" introduction of FDI in retail and capping of subsidised LPG cylinders at six per year, Bandopadhyay said, "Let the Opposition bring another no confidence motion, we will support them. We had given them the golden opportunity to no-confidence motion and not just (rule) 184 or 193."

Rule 184 entails voting while Rule 193 does not.

At the meeting, DMK leader T R Baalu conveyed his party's concerns over allowing 51 per cent FDI in retail. But he remained vague on whether or not his party would want voting on the issue.

AIADMK insisted on voting as did JD(U), BJD and some other parties.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma justified the decision by citing the difficult economic situation.

Sharma sought to reject the Opposition charge that the FDI decision was taken in a haste and without proper consultations. He said the government had discussed the issue with all stake-holders before the decision.

The government had taken the decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail in November last year but put it on hold following strong objections from parties, including the then UPA constituent Trinamool Congress. The hold was removed in September this year.

BJP attacks govt, SP and BSP

The BJP today hit out at the government for not agreeing to voting in Parliament on FDI in retail issue and made a veiled attack on SP and BSP for not pressing for voting on it alleging they are speaking differently outside and inside Parliament.

BJP also charged Congress and its allies with obstructing Parliament and said it wants Parliament to function and is not responsible for the current situation.

Terming the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail as a policy decision which affects on the lives of millions in important sectors of agriculture and retail trade, BJP said it wants a discussion on it in Parliament and voting.

... contd.

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