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| Government confident of numbers |
| Government confident of numbers as it faces FDI test in Lok Sabha
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| INDIA
, 4-December-2012
2:56:37 AM |
| Parliament is set to debate and vote on the issue of allowing Foreign Direct Investment or FDI in multi-brand retail over the next four days, starting 2 pm today, when the BJP's Sushma Swaraj will initiate the discussion in the Lok Sabha. Apart from the avowed support of all UPA partners, including the DMK, the government has broad hints from its two key allies Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) that they will not rock the boat. There are riders to that, though.
The BSP has indicated that its vote on FDI is linked to the passing of a bill that provides reservation for scheduled castes and tribes in promotions for government jobs. The BSP reportedly wants the quota bill to be passed first - the government has duly listed it in the Rajya Sabha today. Only, the SP, which is opposed to the quota bill, has said it will not allow House to function if the government tries to push it. As it grapples with that knot, the Manmohan Singh government wore its confident face this morning as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, "The government is confident that the BJP's motion against FDI will be rejected in both Houses of Parliament." (Watch)
In the Lok Sabha, the government seems to have its numbers adding up. It is counting on the Samajwadi Party, which has been vocally against FDI in retail outside Parliament, abstaining or walking out. While party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was non-committal yesterday, his brother and party colleague Ram Gopal Yadav said today, "The Samajwadi Party is of the opinion that FDI is completely against the welfare of small traders. We have said that although the government is very adamant in introducing FDI, we won't be implementing it in UP at any cost." In the same vein, he added, "Voting with the BJP may not be a consideration. The Left is also against FDI but both parties' policies are poles apart."
Mayawati's BSP could abstain or, if satisfied with the government's intention on the quota Bill,
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