FDI issue: DMK galvanises UPA
The DMK’s announcement that it would support the UPA-2 government in the event of a vote on FDI in multi-brand retail, though 'in bitterness', strengthened the government’s hand on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed confidence that the numbers in Parliament are in favour of the UPA and the government indicated that it was not averse to a discussion on FDI in multi-brand retail under any rule, a move that could end the deadlock in Parliament.
Claiming that the government is not concerned about a vote, parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath said the Speaker should decide under which rule the House should discuss the matter.
The DMK’s green signal to UPA managers indicating the party would vote in favour of FDI may have helped considerably in reshaping the strategy.
“We are confident of the numbers,” the Prime Minister told reporters after an hour-long meeting of the UPA coordination committee, which was attended by leaders of all the constituents of the ruling alliance.
The leaders presented a united picture at the meeting as news came from Chennai of the DMK extending its support to the government in case of a vote on the FDI issue.
Speaking after the UPA coordination committee meeting, Mr Kamal Nath said, “The UPA is fully united on any decision of the Speaker and the government... All constituents are firmly behind the government.”
Asked if the government was ready for a vote, the parliamentary affairs minister said the government was “not averse” to discussion under any rule. “I said it yesterday. I am repeating it today,” he said, adding that larger numbers (parties at the UPA meeting) were in favour of discussion being decided by the Speaker.
Mr Nath said the issue was discussed at the UPA meeting and he would meet the Speaker to convey the sense of Monday’s all-party meeting, and also of the UPA leaders.
However, sources said, the government has conveyed to Lok Sabha that it does not favour voting on FDI in retail, arguing that it would set the wrong precedent — that of voting on an executive decision of the government.
The BJP and Left parties continued to insist that the discussion on FDI should take place under rules that entail voting.
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