The Government seemed to be confident in garnering enough support to face the Opposition’s move against foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail during the winter session of Parliament, beginning next week.
Apart from moving a censure motion that entails voting, the Opposition plans to challenge the amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act rules, notified by the Reserve Bank of India recently.
The CPI(M) moved censure motions under Rules 184 and 167 in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, respectively, on Wednesday. Both the Rules entail voting after discussion.
The CPI(M) leader in the Rajya Sabha, Sitaram Yechury, said it was now up to other parties to take a call on the motions moved by his party, which would also oppose amendments to FEMA Rules.
The Government should table the amended FEMA rules for Parliament’s nod within six months of notifying. Yechury told Business Line that all parties that oppose FDI in retail should support their motion in “national interest.”
Won’t be found wanting
The Government said it was confident of facing any challenge in both the Houses. When asked about the required numbers in case of voting, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Manish Tewari, said, “When push comes to shove, we are never found wanting…. We’ll cross the bridge when we come to it. Parliament has not begun, and the floor leaders are yet to meet. The Presiding officers of both the Houses have their own role to play, so let’s leave at that.”
Technically speaking, a policy decision on FDI in retail does not require Parliamentary approval. However, since the Government announced on the floor of the Houses that a decision would be taken after consensus, the Opposition is now saying that the decision was taken and notified ‘unilaterally’.
The Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party are opposed to FDI, while the Bahujan Samaj Party is yet to reveal its cards. Interestingly, UPA’s largest ally, DMK, said that its stand on FDI in retail would be known when the Bill is brought before Parliament. Meanwhile, the BJP said it would try and work out a joint strategy with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners and other political parties. The NDA floor leaders are scheduled to meet at the end of this week.
Shishir.Sinha@thehindu.co.in
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in