Retail FDI issue: End to Parliament logjam in sight

An end to the logjam in Parliament on FDI in retail today appeared in sight with the government giving enough hints that it has no problem over a vote on the issue.

In an effort to break the impasse, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, along with his deputy Rajiv Shukla, held a meeting with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley.

"Presiding officers can take any decision they want in the interest of running Parliament," Nath said after the meeting.

Insisting that numbers were "not a worry" for the government, he said that the MPs are responsible enough to decide (in favour of the issue).

Replying to questions, he dismissed suggestions that the government has wasted four days of the Winter session to decide on the issue as it did not have the numbers.

"From day one I have said we have the numbers," he said to a question that the government was ready for a vote only after key ally DMK came on board.

Earlier, he also met the Lok Sabha Speaker and last evening the Rajya Sabha Chairperson.

The meeting with the Leaders of the Opposition saw BJP insisting on a discussion under a rule that entails voting alleging that the government had committed gross neglect of Parliament by not adhering to its commitment of consulting all stakeholders before taking a decision on FDI in multi-brand retail.

In such a situation, the only way the sense of the House could be gauged was through voting, Swaraj told reporters after the hour-long meeting.

Her contention was that even if such vote went against, it would not lead to the fall of the government but would only show the view of Parliament on the FDI issue.

"The government will not fall. Only FDI (decision) will have to go. If majority of members are against the decision then the government should abide by it," Swaraj said.

... contd.

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