Retail FDI vote in Rajya Sabha: Mayawati's BSP to vote for govt
living in villages.
"We have neither taken the responsibility to save this government nor to bring it down," he said, suggesting that tomorrow's voting can even be avoided.
Agrawal, whose party is in power in Uttar Pradesh, said FDI would not be allowed in the state as it would destroy the livelihood of farmers. In this context, he cited the example of how VAT was not implemented by the party's previous government.
NCP leader Y P Trivedi, whose party is a constituent of UPA and a partner in the Maharashtra government, disapproved of efforts to create a scare over FDI but said its implementation in the state would be decided by Congress-NCP Coordination Committee after assessing its likely impact.
Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, who was the first to speak on the issue on government's behalf, said UPA has taken a "conscious decision" on FDI in multi-brand retail and "at this stage of economic development and growth permitting FDI is a national imperative".
Kumar said the move will be able to enlist a significant amount of investment in backyard infrastructure which is required to create warehouses and cold chains so that the produce of farmers do not go waste.
Initiating the debate, AIADMK member V Maitreyan demanded withdrawal of the decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and said it will be reversed if his party has a role in the next Central government.
Maitreyan and Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley earlier attacked BSP as also SP, DMK and NCP for helping the government
