All-party meeting called to end parliament stalemate
December 6th, 2011 - 6:13 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS) The government has called an all-party meeting Wednesday to end the logjam in parliament over allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail following efforts over the past few days to reach out to opposition and some of its own allies on the issue.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of signals that the government has decided to hold the contentious FDI decision. It is likely to make a statement on the issue in parliament.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh said the meeting of floor leaders of political parties will be held at 9.30 a.m. Wednesday before parliament meets following a four-day break.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday spoke to BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Sushma Swaraj and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury to convey the government’s decision to put the FDI decision in abeyance and seek their cooperation in running the houses of parliament.
The opposition leaders suggested that the government call an all-party meeting to convey its viewpoint.
Sushma Swaraj also indicated that her party will keep up its pressure on the government and demand a rollback of its decision or the government should agree to debate the FDI issue under adjournment motion entailing vote.
Mukherjee had Saturday informed Trinamool chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that it would put the FDI decision on hold, pending consensus.
Nearly half of the winter session has been lost due to protests and slogan-shouting by opposition members over various issues, mainly FDI in retail.
The government had decided Nov 25 to allow 51 percent foreign ownership of multi-brand retail stores and 100 percent in single brand outlets.
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- PM responsible for parliament logjam: Gurudas Dasgupta - Dec 06, 2011
- Parliament logjam: Government may agree to adjournment motion - Nov 29, 2011
- FDI roll back unlikely at all-party meeting - Nov 28, 2011
- FDI war: Deadlock deepens, BJP rejects Congress truce offer (Intro Roundup) - Nov 30, 2011
- FDI deadlock deepens, Advani rejects Pranab's offer - Nov 30, 2011
- Roll back FDI decision or get parliament nod, demands BJP - Nov 29, 2011
- Day 6: Dry winter spell continues in parliament (Roundup) - Nov 29, 2011
- FDI war: BJP refuses to budge, Congress backs government (Second Intro Roundup) - Dec 01, 2011
- Rollback FDI in retail to let parliament run: BJP - Nov 28, 2011
- Parliament adjourned for day amid deadlock over FDI - Nov 29, 2011
- Government using FDI uproar to buy time, accuse BJP, Left - Nov 29, 2011
- For peace in parliament, FDI policy 'suspended' for now - Dec 07, 2011
- All party meet soon to end FDI logjam: Bansal - Dec 05, 2011
Tags: abeyance, adjournment motion, bharatiya janata party, bjp leader, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, fdi, floor leaders, houses of parliament, l k advani, mamata, marxist leader, opposition leaders, opposition members, pranab mukherjee, rajnath singh, sitaram, sushma swaraj, west bengal, winter session