4-day break to take steam off FDI rage; Govt mulls options

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With Parliament paralysed for the ninth day, the government said on Friday while there would be no rollback of Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail, it might use the four-day parliamentary holiday to hold further consultations with its allies starting Saturday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister (and Trinamul Congress chief) Mamata Banerjee on Friday, seeking her support, which was not forthcoming.

She, however, assured him that her party would do nothing to destabilise the government.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Mamata said, “I told him (the Prime Minister) respectfully that we don’t want the government to be toppled...It’s a very sensitive issue...at the same time, it’s not possible for us to (allow) FDI in retail. I am sorry.”

A decision on an adjournment motion is likely to be taken on December 7, when Parliament meets after the four-day break.

The government is also considering the option of putting the retail FDI decision on hold that day till a 'sense of the House' can be taken.

Earlier Friday, speaking outside Parliament, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee hit out at the allies, particularly Trinamul, for their 'narrow outlook'. To this, railway minister Dinesh Trivedi of Trinamul hit back: “Parliament is not the Lions Club or Rotary Club,” he said. “It’s a political thing... Managing the affairs of the country is political. This is not a canteen where we come (for) chit-chat.”

Mukherjee is also due to talk to Banerjee on the issue. Sources said both the Trinamul and DMK, with 18 MPs each, were likely to back the government if it came to a vote.

A section of the Congress is also contemplating sine die adjournment of both Houses if the impasse is not resolved by December 7. But there are not too many takers as it is felt this would show the government in a poor light.

It is learnt, meanwhile, that all central trade unions, including Intuc, will call a nationwide bandh against FDI in retail on February 28, the day before next year's Union Budget.