Opposition’s motion against FDI in retail defeated in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: As BSP and SP’s choose to walkout from the House, Opposition’s motion against FDI in Lok Sabha was defeated on Wednesday evening. A total of 471 members of the House participated in the voting out of which 218 members voted in favour of the motion moved by Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj whereas 253 members voted against it.
Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj mocked the government that out of the 18 parties participated in the debate in favour of FDI, only four endorsed it.
The House also rejected the motion seeking amendment to the rules notified by the Reserve Bank under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to enable FDI in multi-brand retail. While 254 voted in favour of the government, 224 were against.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who had moved the motion, maintained that majority of the House was against FDI in retail which was reflected in speeches of leaders of different political parties. Swaraj said going by speeches in the debate on FDI, leaders of various parties which extended support in favour of the motion and against bringing FDI in multi-brand retail had 282 votes and those against it had 224 votes.
The Commerce Minister said out of 21 states which responded to the Centre’s communication on the issue, 11 supported in writing the move to open multi-brand retail.
Only 7 states opposed the proposal, while few sought clarifications, he said, adding that he personally met Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In the backdrop of the federal structure of the country, he said, the Centre decided to leave the final decision on states whether to allow foreign investment in retail.

“No one can take away the right of an elected government to take decision”, he said adding the decision was taken after discussions with the stakeholders. “Consensus means general agreement and not unanimity,” he said.