The first day of the winter session of Parliament brought new hurdles for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) moved a no-confidence motion against the UPA government, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were repeatedly adjourned on demands for a discussion on allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, under the voting clause.
Expectedly, the TMC’s motion fell flat for want of support. Soon after Parliament convened, the TMC’s Sudip Bandopadhyay moved a no-confidence motion, saying, “This House expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers over its decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, as it would harm small traders.” However, though the motion required the support of at least 50 members of Parliament (MPs), Bandopadhyay could only secure the support of three MPs from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and 18 MPs from the TMC. Soon, a clash broke out between members of the Congress and the TMC, with the ruling party members shouting “shame, shame”. Speaker Meira Kumar said the motion didn’t have the leave of the House, owing to lack of adequate support.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders said West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee hadn’t sought support on the no-confidence motion from either the opposition party and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
| QUOTE UNQUOTE |
| "We are not for piggybacking on the BJP. We are against FDI. We want a discussion but it does not depend on our wish" Ram Gopal Yadav, senior leader of the Samajwadi Party. |
| Whether the discussion is under Rule 184 or 193, there should be a debate and this can happen only if all parties come together to discuss issues" Sharad Yadav, NDA convener. |
| "The parliamentary affairs minister informed us in the Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee that he will convene an all-party meeting on Monday" Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) leader. |
There was, however, no respite for the UPA. Opposition parties, including the BJP and the Left parties, demanded a discussion on FDI in retail under rule 184, which allows voting. Owing to the repeated adjournments on the issue, the Centre has called an all-party meeting on Monday to ensure Parliament’s functioning isn’t disturbed. “In the Rajya Sabha business advisory committee, the parliamentary affairs minister informed us he would convene an all-party meeting on Monday. He also said he would talk to all party leaders in the Lok Sabha and meet them separately on that day. Then, a final decision would be taken on the issue,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury.
Speaking to Business Standard, Communist Party of India leader D Raja said, “It is the government’s insistence on not agreeing to a discussion with voting that led to this logjam.”
The Left parties have already moved a notice for discussion under rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and rule 168 in the Rajya Sabha.
The government has, however, refused to agree on voting after the discussion, saying it preferred a discussion under rule 193, which doesn’t mandate voting. To convince the BJP not to pursue a discussion on FDI in retail under rule 184, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited its leaders for dinner. The latter are, however, adamant there would be no compromise on the issue, saying voting on FDI in retail was a precondition for the smooth functioning of Parliament.
However, there seems to be a division in the National Democratic Alliance on the issue, as its convener and Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav has a different stand. Though Janata Dal (United) has vehemently opposed the decision on FDI, it seems the party isn’t that keen on a vote.
“Whether the discussion is under Rule 184 or 193, there should be a debate, and this can happen only if all parties come together to discuss issues,” said Yadav. He also appealed to the Union government not to be rigid about the rules under which a discussion should be allowed.
The Samajwadi Party, which has been opposing FDI in retail, has now provided a breather to the Union government. It said it didn’t want to coordinate with the BJP on the floor of the House on the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has also asked her MPs not to disrupt the functioning of the Parliament on the issue of FDI in retail. She, however, added she would reveal her cards at a later stage.
“We are not for piggybacking on the BJP. We are against FDI. We want discussion, but it doesn’t depend on our wish. It is the discretion of the Lok Sabha speaker. If she allows the discussion under rule 184, the discussion will be under 184; if she doesn’t, it would be under 193,” said senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav. However, both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party said should there be a discussion under the voting clause, they would vote against the government.
This has left the government in a quandary and consultations are underway' on what arguments to put forth to ensure the discussion on the issue takes place under a rule that doesn’t mandate voting.
