FDI debate: UPA a lame duck govt, says BJP:
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed a combative debate on the UPA government’s decision to allow FDI in the multi-brand retail when the Opposition termed it an ‘anti-people move’.
Leading the anti-UPA brigade, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley today said that the UPA government is a lame duck government since its own allies are opposing the FDI move.
Speaking in the Upper House, the BJP leader said, “The government clsaim that the FDI move will benefit farmers and create jobs but the fact is that it will ruin the small traders and lead to mopololistic tendencies.”
Jaitley also slammed the UPA like NCP and the DMK for opposing the UPA government on various issue but voting in its favour on the issues of national interest.
Earlier, V Maitreyan of the AIADMK, who introduced the FDI motion in the Rajya Sabha, slammed the Prime Minister for taking the UPA decision without consulting the political parties despite promising to do so.
The AIADMK leader also quoted the Prime Minister’s speech opposing FDI in 2004. “Dr Manmohan Singh opposed FDI when he was in opposition, today he is the prime mover”, he said.
The AIADMK leader also slammed the BSP and SP for ‘bailing out’ the government in the Lok Sabha yesterday, and read out an earlier statement by the party that opposed FDI.
Opening the government’s line of defence, law Minister Ashwini Kumar said that farmers will have a lot to rejoice if FDI is brought and it will benefit over 100 crore people.
Unfazed by its criticism, made last-ditch effort to secure support of friendly parties like BSP and SP and claimed that it will survive the FDI vote in Rajya Sabha.
The opposition is widely expected to win a vote on the issue, although there is some speculation that the house will be disrupted and not allowed to run.
The Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, will initiate the debate which will begin around noon. A voting on the same will be held on Friday.
Earlier this morning, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi met senior Congress leaders and party MPs to chalk out a strategy for saving the UPA government during the crucial debate and voting in Rajya Sabha.
As per reports, the meeting took place at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence, which was attended by all top party leaders.
The Congress-led UPA government yesterday survived its big winter test in the Lok Sabha with the support from ‘friendly parties’ like SP and the BSP and defeated the Opposition-backed motion over FDI in multi-brand retail.
The UPA government’s major reform policy – allowing 51% foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector- would be put to test in Rajya Sabha, which resumed business at 11am today.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm following uproar over Babri mosque demolition issue.
Winning the FDI vote in the Upper House will not be easy for the ruling coalition since it lacks majority here.
The government’s position in Rajya Sabha is different from Lok Sabha where it had got prior indication of support from friendly parties like Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) led by Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Subsequently, both SP and the BSP, which give external support to the UPA government, staged a walk out before the actual vote after putting discerning views on centre’s FDI move.
However, the focus has now shifted to the Rajya Sabha where the government is much below the magic number of 117 out of the total 245 members in the Upper House.
Though the numbers are not in favour of the UPA government in the Rajya Sabha, it is hoping that the SP and the BSP will bail it out.
Of the total 245 members in the Rajya Sabha, the UPA has a strength of 90. With 27 outside supporters from the BSP, SP, Lok Janshakti Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the government tally stands at 117 well short of the required 123 figure for majority. The opposition claims the support of 110 members. Besides, there are seven independents, five from smaller parties and 10 nominated.
During the voting in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 471 of the Lok Sabha's 545 members voted; 253 MPs voted against the BJP motion that challenged the policy and 218 voted for it.
The majority mark was brought down from 273 to 251 by the BSP and the SP walking out to help the government.
Besides claiming victory on the FDI issue, the government also tasted success by defeating a motion moved by the Trinamool Congress against amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to facilitate foreign investment in multi-brand retail.
Ahead of the FDI debate in Lok Sabha yesterday, the Opposition parties had sought that the two be delinked and voted on separately, but the Speaker ruled that they could be debated together.
The government was keen to push the crucial FEMA amendments through. The government has said reforms have won and India Inc is cheering.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that she was happy with the Lok Sabha win and wasn't worried about the vote in the Rajya Sabha, which will begin debate on FDI today and will vote on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm following uproar over Babri mosque demolition issue.
Winning the FDI vote in the Upper House will not be easy for the ruling coalition since it lacks majority here.
The government’s position in Rajya Sabha is different from Lok Sabha where it had got prior indication of support from friendly parties like Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) led by Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Subsequently, both SP and the BSP, which give external support to the UPA government, staged a walk out before the actual vote after putting discerning views on centre’s FDI move.
However, the focus has now shifted to the Rajya Sabha where the government is much below the magic number of 117 out of the total 245 members in the Upper House.
Though the numbers are not in favour of the UPA government in the Rajya Sabha, it is hoping that the SP and the BSP will bail it out.
During the voting in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 471 of the Lok Sabha's 545 members voted; 253 MPs voted against the BJP motion that challenged the policy and 218 voted for it.
The majority mark was brought down from 273 to 251 by the BSP and the SP walking out to help the government.
Besides claiming victory on the FDI issue, the government also tasted success by defeating a motion moved by the Trinamool Congress against amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to facilitate foreign investment in multi-brand retail.
Ahead of the FDI debate in Lok Sabha yesterday, the Opposition parties had sought that the two be delinked and voted on separately, but the Speaker ruled that they could be debated together.
The government was keen to push the crucial FEMA amendments through. The government has said reforms have won and India Inc is cheering.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that she was happy with the Lok Sabha win and wasn't worried about the vote in the Rajya Sabha, which will begin debate on FDI today and will vote on Friday.
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