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Oppn united against FDI: BJP
Refusing to take the blame for the deadlock in Parliament, the BJP on Monday made it clear that it remained firm on a rollback of the decision to allow FDI in retail sector and would not stall Parliament if the government agreed to the demand at the all-party meeting on Tuesday.
Reiterating the criticism against the decision, BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley pointed out that several parties including UPA allies TMC and DMK along with SP and BSP were opposed to the decision.
“Almost all the Opposition parties are opposed to FDI in retail. Our demand is that government should roll back the decision and run the House. We don’t want Parliament to be disrupted. Government can even withdraw its decision tonight,” Swaraj told reporters.
Firm in its opposition, the BJP has maintained that allowing FDI in retail sector will hurt small traders and retailers in the country and result in massive job losses. Importantly, the NDA manifesto in 2004 had supported FDI in retail sector, although to the extent of 26 per cent. It had maintained then that such a move would create new employment opportunities. “Organised retail trade on the international pattern will be promoted as the new engine of growth for trade and employment through appropriate legal and fiscal measures. Twenty six per cent FDI in retail will be allowed. Sourcing of Indian products by foreign retail chains will be encouraged,” the NDA’s agenda for governance had said. The BJP manifesto for 2009, however, had skipped any reference to the issue.
Both Swaraj and Jaitley maintained that there would be no need for the all-party meeting on Tuesday if the government simply withdrew its decision. “Parliament can then discuss price rise tomorrow and black money the day after. Government has taken this decision on FDI without following coalition dharma or taking the Opposition into confidence,” Swaraj said.
Justifying the adjournment motions on the issue by Opposition members, Jaitley added that they were being given under set rules and government should pay heed to them. “Rules have not been phrased in futility,” he said, adding that most stalemates in Parliament have been caused as the UPA government shies away from voting on issues.
The Opposition campaign got another fillip when the BJD led by Naveen Patnaik too came out strongly against FDI in retail. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Patnaik appealed to him to reconsider the decision saying it was “ill advised and regressive”.
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