FDI in retail: Opposition to corner govt in Parliament

A clear indication to this effect was given today by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj who said BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has submitted a notice of adjournment motion on the FDI issue on behalf of the party.

"We want the House to discuss this issue by way of adjournment motion tomorrow," she tweeted, adding Government's decision of allowing 51 per cent FDI in retail "is not acceptable to us".

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley will move a motion to suspend Question Hour to discuss why the Government's decision on allowing FDI in retail should be revoked.

Key NDA ally JD(U) has also given a notice of an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha on Monday and efforts are on for floor coordination among opposition parties including BJP, the Left, AIADMK, besides those supporting UPA such as BSP and SP.

The Left parties and AIADMK are likely to move similar motions in both the Houses.

Added to this is the fact that some constituents of the UPA like Trinamool Congress are also opposing FDI in retail.

Opposition sources said efforts were underway to bring on board DMK besides the Trinamool.

NDA convener Sharad Yadav claimed that the entire opposition will remain united on this issue in Parliament.

"Parliament will not run at the cost of people. This decision of government will render crores of small business and vendors unemployed and destroy the unique village economy of the country," he said.

The first week of the winter session which began on November 22 was a virtual washout in view of Opposition protest over various issues including price rise and Telengana.

On Friday, it was adjourned without transacting any business following uproar over the FDI issue.

The CPI(M), meanwhile, called upon all political parties to oppose the Centre's decision to allow FDI in retail business, saying this will affect 96 per cent of small traders in the country.

"We appeal to all political parties, irrespective of ideology, to unite under one umbrella in opposing the entry of FDI in the retail sector, because this will deal a blow to 96 per cent of traders in the country," CPI(M) Central Committee member Shyamal Chakraborty said.

Observing that many opposition parties and even some UPA constituents were opposed to the entry of FDI in retail, Chakraborty said, "We hear even some Congress ministers at the Centre are opposed to it. This is a good indication."

Chakraborty said the CPI(M) and its trade union wing CITU will support the nation-wide traders' strike on Dec 1.

Dismissing Union commerce minister Anand Sharma's statement that the move will help create employment, he said while it was being claimed that entry of FDI in retail will help farmers, they will actually be victimised as procurement prices will be decided by MNCs.

"It is being said that China has allowed FDI in its retail sector. It can, as it has a very strong manufacturing sector. In our country, contribution of manufacturing sector to the GDP is low. Contribution of the service sector is more. Therefore, we are bound to suffer, as some South Asian countries are now realising," Chakraborty said.