The impasse in Parliament over FDI in multi-brand retail continued Tuesday as even an all-party meeting convened by Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Muk-erjee failed to break the ice. An unrelenting Opposition stuck to its demand for a “rollback” of the decision, while Mr Mukherjee prom-ised to get back after consulting the top leadership.
A united Opposition, joined by the Trinamul Congress and the DMK, stalled proceedings of the two Houses for the sixth consecutive day of the Winter Session. No substantive business could be transacted in either House as trouble started as soon as they met. The Houses were first adjourned till noon, but as there was no change after they reassembled the presiding officers were forced to adjourn proceedings for the day.
Earlier, at the morning all-party meeting, Mr Mukherjee said no decision on a rollback could be taken without consulting the Union Cabinet, which approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail last week. He said: “I informed them (Opposition leaders) that I would talk to the leadership — the PM and Mrs Gandhi — and thereafter, whatever decision the government takes, you will come to know.” The Oppo-sition remained unconvinced and slogans of “FDI wapas lo, sansad chalao” could be heard both within and outside Parliament, which has not transacted almost any business since the Winter Session began.