JOIN USCongress getting isolated on FDI
Increasing the political isolation of the Congress on FDI, its trusted ally, the DMK, on Monday threatened to “support any Opposition-sponsored resolution in Parliament” while estranged ally Mamata Banerjee stated that she may bring in a no-confidence motion against the government in the coming winter session of Parliament.
In Chennai, the DMK, which is the second largest constituent of the UPA, urged the Congress-led Centre to reconsider the decision of allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail even as the nation’s Capital witnessed two gatherings, one in favour of the FDI and the other against it.
While the pro-FDI meeting was addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee led the anti-FDI rally in which Opposition NDA convener Sharad Yadav also participated.
A DMK resolution adopted at the emergency meeting of its executive, said: "Allowing FDI in multi-brand retail in the name of economic reforms will spell doom for developing countries like India.” Certain states going ahead with the implementation of FDI and some others opposing it will only damage hugely the Indian economy.
The DMK, which has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha, had opposed the recent hike in diesel prices and restriction on subsidised LPG cylinders besides saying that it would not fill up two of its vacancies in the Union cabinet. However, DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi made it clear that his party would continue to support Congress to keep “communal and regressive forces” from taking any advantage.
Mounting further pressure on the UPA, the DMK sought a review of the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict cancelling all the 122 ‘2G spectrum’ licenses issued during UPA-I.
Banerjee, who withdrew support to the UPA government on the FDI issue, said during her address at the rally that she had “heard” that the general elections could be advanced and held in March next year.
“We also don't want this government. If need be, we are ready for bringing a no-confidence motion against this government,” she added.
Warning the UPA government against its “anti-people economic policies,” she urged all anti-Congress parties to come together to protest these policies. “Selling the country cannot be reforms. In a democracy, if you sell out the country, the people will throw you out.”
While Anand Sharma ruled out any second thoughts by the Government on the introduction of FDI in multi-brand retail, Dikshit said Delhi would soon become the first state in the country to implement the latest policy decision “that will prove boon for the people.”
“Delhi was the first State to express its commitment to implement FDI and it will also be the first to implement it,” said Dikshit while addressing a large gathering of party workers and general public.
The Congress downplayed the DMK threat of backing any opposition-sponsored resolution on the government’s decision allowing FDI in multi-brand retail in Parliament.
The party said it will provide “empirical evidence” to allay the apprehensions of its second largest ally at the centre.
“(The) Government is not in minority. Some of our partners have concern, we will continue to work with them and provide them with empirical evidence to allay their apprehensions. We went through same cycle on Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.
The government is in majority and has full authority to take decisions, he stressed, adding, “At times when you break from the past, it is wrenching for some people."
Meanwhile, pre-poll ally Jharkhand Vikas Morcha( Prajatantric) snapped ties with the UPA on Monday by withdrawing its support to the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre in protest against the second wave of reforms.
“We pulled out of UPA-II as we did not get any response to our letter to the prime minister urging him to roll back all his second wave of reforms and initiate a probe into the allotment of recommendation of 69 coal blocks by successive governments in Jharkhand,” JVM(P) President and party MP Babulal Marandi said.