New Delhi:(Page3 News Network)-An end to the stalemate in Parliament on FDI in retail appeared in sight today with the government hinting that it has no problem over a vote on the issue.
To break the impasse, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, along with his deputy Rajiv Shukla, held a meeting with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley. The meeting remained inconclusive with the opposition sticking to its demand for a debate on the issue with voting.
Later,Kamal Nath told newspersons that the government cannot accept a discussion with voting but it has left the matter to the presiding officers to decide. He said they can take any decision they want in the interest of running the House. Asked if the government is ready for voting on FDI he said, Government is are not averse to it. He said numbers are not a worry for the government and the MPs are responsible enough to decide on the issue.
Sushma Swaraj said that the government asked for FDI debate without voting and the BJP has refused to accept it. She alleged that the government did not adhered to its commitment of consulting all stakeholders before taking a decision on FDI in multi-brand retail. She said,in such a situation, the only way the sense of the House could be gauged was through voting.
Earlier, Kamalnath also met the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Trinamool Congress said it will take a stand only after Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar takes a decision on the issue. Party leader Saugata Roy,however, ruled out voting in favour of the government.
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today met DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai and thanked him for his support to the UPA coalition in Parliament. He said the UPA government is on a strong wicket on the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail sector.
