BJP gears up to confront government on FDI

[Backbencher]

Refusing to give up on the FDI
in multi-brand retail issue,
which could affect its core vote
bank of small traders, BJP on
Wednesday said it will oppose
the government decision in
Parliament and try to build a
joint strategy with NDA
partners and other political
parties.
“BJP will strongly oppose the
government decision on FDI in
multi-brand retail in the
forthcoming winter session of
Parliament. This decision is not
in the interest of the country,”
party spokesperson Ravi
Shankar Prasad said.
He announced that BJP will
discuss its strategy with other
NDA partners and also get in
touch with political parties
which have reservations on the
issue.
The NDA allies are likely to
hold a meeting on November
21, a day before the winter
session begins.
“We would like to put the
government on the mat on this
issue. In November 2011, the
then Finance Minister had
announced in the Lok Sabha
that a decision on FDI in multi-
brand retail will be taken only
after consulting all concerned
sections. A similar statement
was made by the then
Commerce Minister in the Rajya
Sabha,” Mr. Prasad said.
BJP charged that this promise
has been violated by the
government as it has taken the
decision unilaterally.
But the principal opposition is
not yet clear to what extent it
will go against the government
in Parliament.
Though the opposition claims to
have support of majority of MPs
in both Houses on the issue, the
NDA is unlikely to press for a
vote on the issue.
Asked if BJP and NDA would
rally behind Mamata Banerjee’s
TMC in case it seeks division of
votes to embarrass the
government, the party said it
will decide its future course of
action in the NDA meeting.

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