With the first day of the winter session of Parliament beginning the way it concluded during the monsoon session, differences within the NDA cropped up on Thursday. While the BJP was adamant on its stand of not letting Parliament function till a debate and voting is allowed on FDI, its ally JD-U was not too keen on voting and said the debate can take place under any rule.
‘Whether the discussion is under Rule 184 or 193, there should be a debate and this can happen only if all parties come together to discuss issues,’ said JD(U) president Sharad Yadav. The JD(U) leader also side stepped the issue when asked about the stand taken by the BJP on FDI. ‘I don’t want to go into this. This can be sorted out in the business advisory committee. The House can solve it,’ said Yadav.
Surprised at Yadav’s statement, BJP claimed that their stand was in harmony with the NDA’s position on the matter. ‘At the NDA meeting, it was decided that we would raise the demand for discussion on FDI in retail issue under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and similar provisions in the Rajya Sabha which entail voting,’ said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, while justifying their stand on FDI.
BJP sources said Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and other senior leaders felt FDI should be given preference over other issues as most Opposition parties were on board for voting on it. The party also felt this would force UPA ally DMK and supporting parties SP-BSP, which have openly come out against FDI, to break ranks.
The principal opposition, however, could find a face-saver in ‘consultations’ with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who invited them over dinner on Thursday.
‘Whether the discussion is under Rule 184 or 193, there should be a debate and this can happen only if all parties come together to discuss issues,’ said JD(U) president Sharad Yadav. The JD(U) leader also side stepped the issue when asked about the stand taken by the BJP on FDI. ‘I don’t want to go into this. This can be sorted out in the business advisory committee. The House can solve it,’ said Yadav.
Surprised at Yadav’s statement, BJP claimed that their stand was in harmony with the NDA’s position on the matter. ‘At the NDA meeting, it was decided that we would raise the demand for discussion on FDI in retail issue under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and similar provisions in the Rajya Sabha which entail voting,’ said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, while justifying their stand on FDI.
BJP sources said Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and other senior leaders felt FDI should be given preference over other issues as most Opposition parties were on board for voting on it. The party also felt this would force UPA ally DMK and supporting parties SP-BSP, which have openly come out against FDI, to break ranks.
The principal opposition, however, could find a face-saver in ‘consultations’ with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who invited them over dinner on Thursday.