|
FDI debate in Lok Sabha Dec 4-5; UPA sure of
numbers
Monday December 03, 2012 07:03:38 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Delhi:
The UPA government Monday said it was confident of its numbers in
the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the crucial debate and voting in the
house on FDI in retail, and urged all parties to reject "politics"
behind the issue.
"We are confident of the numbers," Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Kamal Nath told reporters. The debate will begin Dec 4 and the
voting will take place Dec 5.
Terming the debate as "pure politics", Nath urged all parties to
reject the politics behind the motion sponsored by the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist
(CPI-M).
"I urge all parties to reject the politics of it and vote against
the politics in the house," said Kamal Nath. "The policy is very
clear that the states have to decide on allowing any (FDI in
retail) proposal".
The Congress has issued a whip to all its members asking them to
be present in the Lok Sabha on Dec 4 and 5 for the crucial debate
and vote on FDI in retail.
The minister said the government would get the amendments to the
Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), required to facilitate FDI
in multi-brand retail, passed in both houses, if needed.
"Passing it in one house is sufficient as per the rules. But if it
is required, we will pass it in both the houses," Kamal Nath said.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury recently said that amendments to the
FEMA need to be passed in both houses and the government's failure
to do so will be challenged in court.
While the debate in the Lok Sabha will be held under Rule 184, in
the Rajya Sabha it will be held under Rule 168, both entailing
vote, said government sources.
Though the UPA government is confident of sailing through in the
lower house, it does not have the required numbers in the Rajya
Sabha.
The role of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),
which support the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
government from outside, would be crucial in the Rajya Sabha,
sources said.
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav surprised everyone last week by saying:
"If there is a vote on FDI in Rajya Sabha, we will vote against
it. We will not let it pass."
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said:
"We are in touch with both the SP and the BSP. We hope they will
vote in favour of FDI in retail."
BSP chief Mayawati said that her party does not support FDI and
would decide how to vote on the "floor of house" Dec 5.
"Inviting FDI in retail without clauses for the use of local
produce would mean an invitation to foreigners to earn maximum
profits here. FDI in retail will affect farmers and small
traders," she told reporters.
The SP is irked over what it feels is the UPA's support for
reservation for Dalits and tribals in job promotions, an idea
backed by its archrival, the BSP.
"We are committed to the bill for reservation for Dalits and
tribals in job promotions," said Nath.
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 as against the magical 123 figure for majority.
The opposition claims the support of 110 members. Besides, there
are seven independents, five from smaller parties and 10
nominated.
The BJP and CPI-M had submitted separate notices for a debate with
a voting provision.
The CPI-M also wants a vote on amendments to FEMA, tabled in the
Lok Sabha Friday. Both houses of parliament have seen repeated
disruptions on the issue since the winter session began Nov 22.
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I |
|
|
|
|
More Headlines |
|
China-India ties must not be affected by 'noises': Official |
|
Singapore High Court stays Maldives GMR decision |
|
What will Nitish do if Modi is PM candidate, asks Lalu |
|
Muslims won't give up Babri Masjid land, says Owaisi |
|
Shah Rukh conferred Morocco's medal of
honour |
|
Muhammad Ali to be proclaimed king of boxing |
|
Survival pangs, as Karnataka legislature
meets Dec 5 |
|
Somali clan clashes leave 30 dead |
|
British parents in court over selling
daughter for sex |
|
Steroids shots tied to bone loss in ageing
women |
|
US
vulnerable to cyber-Pearl Harbour, says Panetta |
|
Kejriwal launches party in Maharashtra, seeks irrigation 'scam'
probe |
|
Persistence of a Sore: Communal Violence Today |
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
 UPA's cash transfer scheme: Game changer or
hype?
It's been described variously as a "game changer", a policy that
could well frame the political debate for the next elections. The
government claims its direct cash transfer scheme
»
Direct Cash Transfer - A Primer
Countries which have tried cash transfers
Will cash transfers be the new game-changer?
Congress hopes cash subsidy will be 2014
game changer
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 Muhammad Ali to be proclaimed king of boxing
Muhammad Ali, former world heavyweight boxing champion and widely
considered to be the greatest pugilist of all time, will be named
"King of Boxing" at the 50th convention of the »
|
|
Bihar
village bans women from using mobiles
A village panchayat in Bihar has prohibited women from using
mobile phones and imposed heavy fines on them if they violated the
diktat, an official said Monday.
The self-styled social reformers of Sunderbadi village panchayat
in Kochadham block of Kishanganj district Sunday
» |
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
 Mursi announces referendum on new constitution on December 15
Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi received a copy of the country's
draft constitution Saturday night and announced plans for a
December 15 public
»
|
|
First Sikh to guard Buckingham Palace - and
in turban
Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar,
25, who joined the Scots Guards this year, has been given
permission to wear a turban when on guard duty outside Buckingham
Palace, breaking hundreds of years of tradition, Daily Mail
»
|
|
Many universities are teaching shops:
Chidambaram
Stressing the need to build world-class educational institutions
in the country, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Sunday
regretted that many universities in the country were just teaching
shops. Addressing students
»
|
|
Kejriwal launches party in Maharashtra, seeks irrigation 'scam'
probe
Kejriwal also released a "black paper
on irrigation" to counter the white paper released by the
government, which gave a clean chit to Nationalist Congress Party
leader and former Maharashtra
»
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Chairperson, National Advisory
Council Mrs Sonia Gandhi with the winner of Indira Gandhi
Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva, former President of the Federative Republic of
Brazil, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on November 22,
2012. |
|
|
|
Recommend the story to
your friends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links