Why is government avoiding FDI discussion, asks BJP

Commenting on social networking site Twitter even as parliament was adjourned once again amid protest over FDI in retail, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj asked why was the government running away from the discussion under a rule that entails voting.

"We want a discussion in parliament on our adjournment motion on FDI in retail. Why is the government running away from a discussion followed by a vote in the house?" Swaraj asked.

"This means the government does not have the majority support in parliament on this decision," she said.

Party leader Arun Jaitley called the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail a knee-jerk reaction from the government.

"FDI in retail cannot be introduced merely as a kneejerk response because the government is suspected to have abandoned economic reforms," Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said in an article released by the party office.

"We are not opposed either to the concept of FDI or giving an additional thrust to the reform programme. Changes which hurt the Indian economy can hardly be termed as reforms," he wrote.

Parliament was adjourned yet again Wednesday on the issue of FDI in retail.