FDI logjam persists on Day 3
At a meeting on Monday, parties failed to reach a consensus on how a discussion will be held in Parliament over the recent decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. Most parties opposed to the decision, including the BJP, AIADMK, BJD, Left, TDP and JD(S), insisted on a discussion under rules entailing voting. With the government in no mood to relent, this amplified the chances that these parties might continue to disrupt parliamentary proceedings over the issue in the coming days, putting the reform Bills in jeopardy.
The SP and BSP, however, provided solace to the ruling combine by taking the ambiguous — and likely favourable — stand that the decision on whether to have voting can be left to the chairs of both Houses.
The Trinamool Congress, which last week made an unsuccessful bid to move a no-confidence motion over the FDI issue, exhibited its fickleness once again by not insisting on voting and said the chair should decide the rule under which discussion could take place.
Parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath said after the all-party meeting that the Speaker would decide if voting could be done. Commerce minister Anand
Be the first to comment.
