Amid the standoff in Parliament over the Cabinet decision to allow FDI in retail, the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, today met the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, here to discuss the issue.

Ahead of his meeting with Congress MPs to allay their apprehensions on FDI, Mr Pranab Mukherjee met Ms Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence for about 10 minutes, party sources said.

He had yesterday said that he would speak to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the UPA Chairperson and thereafter the government will decide on how to resolve the impasse in Parliament over the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee had said that the Opposition leaders have suggested a roll-back of the decision and a discussion in Parliament on the issue under an adjournment motion.

“I informed them (Opposition leaders) that I will talk to the leadership — Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. And thereafter, whatever decision government will take, you will come to know,” he had said.

Opposition parties including the BJP and Left have demanded a roll-back of the Cabinet decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.

Even UPA allies TMC and DMK, along with SP and BSP, which lend outside support to the government, demanded that the decision should be revoked.

The Prime Minister has virtually rejected the demands of the Opposition as also UPA constituents — Trinamool Congress and DMK to roll-back the decision on FDI.

Congress sources said Mr Pranab Mukherjee’s meeting with party MPs today is aimed at addressing the concerns of members.

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