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Govt hopes to bring allies on board to end FDI standoff
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 25
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance seeks to work a way out of the latest Government-Opposition stand-off over a discussion with vote in Parliament to permit Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retailing. Efficacy of Congress political managers will be put to test to save the winter session and allow passage of important legislative agenda.

With the BJP-led NDA and Left parties-led grouping insisting on a discussion under Rules that entail voting, the Government will make another attempt to reason it out at a meeting with leaders of parties in Parliament tomorrow at 1 pm.

Senior Congress leaders hope that by then its political managers would be able to take a call whether to concede to the demand extracting a promise to ensure passage of a clutch of Bills that further economic reforms. For this the BJP, the principal party in the Opposition, has to be on board.

By then the Congress can also match its inputs based on confabulations with the DMK, a key UPA ally with 18 MPs and outside supporters Samajwadi Party (22 MPs) and the BSP (21 MPs) before acceding to the Opposition demand and avoid a parliamentary rebuke on the Government's FDI in retail decision.

In Pune today, Finance Minister P Chidambaram stated that the BJP at the moment is stuck on one issue. “That issue has to be resolved. Once that issue is resolved, chances of the Bills proposed by the Ministry of Finance are extremely bright.”

Left leaders here disclosed that the Government strategy can also be seen in the latest effort to send Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to Chennai for a meeting with DMK chief M Karunanidhi to enlist his support on the issue. The DMK is opposed to FDI in retail.

Azad said the visit was aimed at obtaining the views of the DMK chief on discussion about voting, “if any and whenever it takes place in Parliament.”

The Union Minister admitted that Karunanidhi has a lot of reservations about the FDI in retail sector. He suggested incorporating an enabling provision to ensure that the Centre would not enforce it on state government not willing to implement.

Another senior Opposition leader said the DMK may oppose the move but would not vote against the Government, a tactic the SP and the BSP too are likely to adopt.

Ahead of the winter session, the Government flagged 25 Bills on priority list for legislation. These include amending banking and insurance laws and reforms in pension sector. These Bills apart, the Government wants to demonstrate its commitment to fight graft and giving push to the stalled Lokpal Bill, enacting Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill and amending Prevention of Money Laundering Act are among the legislations.

DMK seeks enabling provision

Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had parleys with M Karunanidhi, said the DMK chief suggested incorporating an enabling provision to ensure that the Centre would not enforce it on a state government that is unwilling to implement the FDI in retail. The DMK is opposed to FDI in retail.

Key hurdle

The BJP-led NDA and Left parties-led grouping are insisting on a discussion under rules that entail voting. Finance Minister P Chidambaram stated that the BJP is stuck on the issue. Once that issue is resolved, chances of the Bills proposed by the Ministry of Finance are extremely bright.