New Delhi:(Page3 News Network)-The motion moved by BJP against FDI in retail has been defeated in the Lok Sabha by a margin of 35 votes. 218 members voted in favour of the motion while 253 voted against. The motion on withdrawing the government decision of 51 percent FDI in multi brand retail was moved on Tuesday by BJP leader Sushma swaraj.Members belonging to the Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party stayed away from voting by staging a walkout ahead of voting. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, announced in the house that the motion has been defeated.
Earlier replying to the debate, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said the Centre has been continuously consulting all the stakeholders including the Chief Ministers on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
Mr Sharma clarified that the decision has to be taken by the Chief Ministers themselves whether FDI in retail may be allowed in their states.
Mr Sharma said out of 21 Chief Ministers, who replied, eleven were in favour and seven against while three Chief Ministers sought clarification.
The Commerce Minister said every state has the right and no one can deprive the right of an elected government to take important decisions.
He also said, several studies have shown that around 35 per cent or Rs 65000 crore worth of fruits and vegetable are lost post harvest due to lack of infrastructure, cold storage and agro processing facilities.
Responding to Anand Sharma's reply Leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj appealed to the Prime minister to reconsider the decision as only four out of 18 parties spoke in favour of the decision.
She said, the motion could be defeated only because, the parties who took part in the Bharat bandh against FDI, and also spoke against it in the house chose to abstain by staging a walk out. She said, the debate was not on matters relating to communal or secular issues, but affecting poor people.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Mr. Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI said FDI in multi-brand retail will create monopolies that will manipulate local markets and dictate prices. He warned the Government that overdependence on foreign funds will not be in India's interest.
Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the multi-brand retailers will eventually squeeze out the middlemen from the supply chain. She wanted to know whether the Government has considered where will those thousands of small traders and wholesale retailers rendered unemployed go to find jobs.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi furnished documentary evidence to prove how FDI in Retail will go against the country's interest.
AIADMK leader Munisamy Thambidurai took dig at the DMK for opposing FDI in the state, but pledging support to the Union Government on the issue.
Shiv Sena's Anant Geete said this will harm the interests of Indian farmers.
Jayant Chaudhary, RLD welcomed the move to bring FDI in Multi-Brand retail. The discussion is continuing.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha witnessed a brief adjournment following heated exchanges between RJD leader Lalu Prasad and BJP members during the ongoing discussion on FDI. When Mr Prasad rose to speak, he was enraged by certain remarks of the BJP group. An agitated Mr. Prasad shot back, resulting in a din in the House.
When Deputy Speaker Karia Munda's repeated pleas for order went unheeded, he adjourned the House for about ten minutes.
Earlier, the House also witnessed noisy scenes when Ms. Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Akali Dal was speaking. She was interrupted by a Congress member from Punjab.
The Lok Sabha has since resumed discussion on the FDI issue.
