Chidambaram meets BJP leaders over financial bills

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Finance Minister P. Chidambaram met BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj Friday to discuss the smooth passage of some pending financial legislations in the ongoing winter session, sources said.

The winter session, which began Thursday, is stuck in a logjam over the opposition’s demand for voting on the government decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi−brand retail.

Sources said Chidambaram met the two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in parliament and sought the main opposition party’s support for passage of bills.

Chidambaram was present at the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for BJP leaders, including Swaraj and Jaitley. Party leader L. K. Advani was also present.

Sushma Swaraj is the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha.

The sources said the two BJP leaders conveyed that financial bills could be taken up after the stalemate over FDI in retail was resolved.

The BJP is sticking to its demand for voting on the issue of FDI in multi−brand retail. The CPI−M is also intent on discussion under voting provisions.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain made it clear Friday that the BJP will stick to its demand for voting on FDI in multi−brand retail at the all party meeting Monday.

The government has maintained that there was no need for voting on an executive decision.

The financial bills on the agenda of the government for the winter session include insurance laws (amendment) bill, companies bill, banking laws amendment bill and pension fund regulatory and development authority bill.

IANS 2012-11-23 21:52:19