Government slams BJP, says confident of numbers

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) The UPA government Tuesday slammed the BJP over its opposition to foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and said it is confident of its numbers in the Lok Sabha, which begins a debate on the issue at 2 p.m.

“I’ve been consistently saying the motion passed by the BJP in both houses of parliament will be defeated. This is just politics in the name of FDI on the part of the BJP, and we urge all parties to reject it,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters in the parliament complex.

“This is politics. We are managing,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Khagen Das will move the motion, which reads: “This House recommends to the government to immediately withdraw its decision to allow 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail trade.”

The motion for the modification of Foreign Exchange Management Act notification, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha Nov 30, will also be taken up along with the one on FDI.

Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy and National Conference leader Hassan Khan have moved the motion for this.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, said all parties should stick to their stand on FDI in retail which they adopted outside parliament.

“We only hope the parties stand both inside and outside the parliament. They have protested…they come on street against FDI in retail. It is not in the interest of the country,” said BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) also said it was not with the government on FDI in retail.

“Our final stand decided on December 6 after listening to the logic and reply of the government. It could not be taken as granted,” said SP leader Ramgopal Yadav.

“It (FDI in retail) is not in the favour of the poor,” he said.

The stand taken by the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party will be crucial for the government to win the voting that will follow this debate.

“If there is a vote on FDI in the Rajya Sabha, we will vote against it. We will not let it pass,” Yadav said.

IANS 2012-12-04 12:58:05