Suspension in the issue of allowing FDI in retail

NEW DELHI:Bearing an intense pressure for a long time from within and outside the government, on Wednesday the Center announced suspension of its decision to allow FDI in retail. Now Parliament gets back to business, after a logjam of nine days.

During an all-party meeting this morning the government made the offer to put on hold the Cabinet decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and the Opposition agreed to it.

Soon after, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made an announcement in the Lok Sabha that the government has decided to put on hold the decision on FDI till all stakeholders were consulted.

“The decision to permit 51% FDI in multi-brand retail is suspended till a consensus is developed among various stakeholders,” Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha.

He explained that the stakeholders were political parties and Chief Ministers without whose involvement this decision cannot be implemented.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj welcomed the announcement to put on hold the decision.

“Government has bowed to the wishes of the people. To bow before the will of the people is not defeat,” she said.
After the statement by the Leader of the House, Speaker Meira Kumar disallowed the adjournment motions moved by several opposition parties, including the BJP, the Left and BSP. BSP members were dissatisfied and staged a walkout.
The House then took up the Question Hour for the first time since the Winter session began on November 22.