Smarting under the attack from Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj over her party’s walkout from the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the voting on FDI, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday declared her support to the government on FDI in Rajya Sabha. Another outside supporter of the government, the Samajwadi Party (SP), did not say anything on voting but is also likely to abstain during voting on Friday. Congress floor managers hope that with Mayawati’s support the sailing should be smooth in the Rajya Sabha on Friday when voting takes place.
Despite being way below the halfway mark of 123 in the house of 244, the UPA government, with the support of 15 BSP members and nine Samajwadi Party members planning to walk out, looks set to defeat the Opposition sponsored motion on withdrawal of government notification on the FDI. A large part of Mayawati’s speech was targeted at the BJP leaders. She said: ‘The BJP leadership harped on the CBI tune because the grapes were proving to be sour for them. They want us to join them which we have steadfastly refused.’ BJP leaders on Wednesday had said, ‘Despite reservation on FDI, her party bailed out the government because of the fear of CBI.’ She went on to say, ‘We are often accused of being under pressure from the CBI. This has become fashionable for the Opposition.’
Justifying her party’s decision Mayawati said, ‘We have decided to vote in favour of the government on FDI in multi-brand retail issue tomorrow (on Friday). We have decided to support the government because the FDI policy has a plus point as it is not binding on states and they are free to implement it.’ During the debate, Leader of Oppositon in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley bemoaned the fact that the BSP, the SP and the DMK were helping the government in voting despite reservations on the implementation of FDI in retail. Jaitley also questioned continuation of the UPA government, saying it has failed to touch the figure of 272 in Lok Sabha falling short of 18 votes in the Lower House during voting on FDI. ‘After this figure, you are a lame duck government,’ Jaitley said and questioned what price the nation would pay for the decision of a ‘minority government’. He said with the implementation of FDI, India would become a country of salesmen. The House witnessed heated arguments and disruptions many times during the day.
Despite being way below the halfway mark of 123 in the house of 244, the UPA government, with the support of 15 BSP members and nine Samajwadi Party members planning to walk out, looks set to defeat the Opposition sponsored motion on withdrawal of government notification on the FDI. A large part of Mayawati’s speech was targeted at the BJP leaders. She said: ‘The BJP leadership harped on the CBI tune because the grapes were proving to be sour for them. They want us to join them which we have steadfastly refused.’ BJP leaders on Wednesday had said, ‘Despite reservation on FDI, her party bailed out the government because of the fear of CBI.’ She went on to say, ‘We are often accused of being under pressure from the CBI. This has become fashionable for the Opposition.’
Justifying her party’s decision Mayawati said, ‘We have decided to vote in favour of the government on FDI in multi-brand retail issue tomorrow (on Friday). We have decided to support the government because the FDI policy has a plus point as it is not binding on states and they are free to implement it.’ During the debate, Leader of Oppositon in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley bemoaned the fact that the BSP, the SP and the DMK were helping the government in voting despite reservations on the implementation of FDI in retail. Jaitley also questioned continuation of the UPA government, saying it has failed to touch the figure of 272 in Lok Sabha falling short of 18 votes in the Lower House during voting on FDI. ‘After this figure, you are a lame duck government,’ Jaitley said and questioned what price the nation would pay for the decision of a ‘minority government’. He said with the implementation of FDI, India would become a country of salesmen. The House witnessed heated arguments and disruptions many times during the day.