Storm over FDI paralyses Parliament for second day

The storm over the issue of FDI in retail refused to subside with the matter, along with quota in promotions for SCs and STs, paralysing proceedings in Parliament for the second day on Friday.

With Trinamool Congress members trooping into the Well, the Left and the Right also made a common cause in Lok Sabha against the government's decision on allowing 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.

The move has also seen fissures in the Opposition camp with SP and BSP maintaining ambivalent position on the issue, amid Opposition suggestions that they were helping the government.

An all-party meeting has been convened by the government on Monday to break the deadlock.

The Lower House was adjourned for the day without transacting any business. It witnessed one adjournment soon after it met as Trinamool Congress members trooped into the Well demanding withdrawal of the decision on FDI.

Left party members were in the aisle joining those from BJP and other parties in raising slogans against the decision. Left MPs were also seen waving CPI(M) pamphlet on the repercussions of allowing FDI in retail.

The House was adjourned for the day within five minutes past noon after laying of papers.

Earlier, soon after Lok Sabha assembled, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh introduced new members in his Council of Ministers.

The Rajya Sabha was dominated by protests by BSP and SP members who demanded a bill to provide for reservation to SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs.

The House saw two adjournments, one 10 minutes after it assembled for the day and again at noon till 2.30 pm, as BSP and SP members remained unrelenting.

BJP members in the Upper House too protested on the issue of FDI in retail sector.

Some of them displayed copies of a newspaper carrying report on Bharti Walmart suspending its Chief Financial Officer as it investigated alleged violations of US anti-bribery laws.

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