Government lost FDI battle morally: BJP

The BJP on Wednesday said the government had won the vote on FDI in multi-brand retail only on technical ground and had lost the battle morally.

“Only the Congress, the NCP, the RLD, and the RJD were for FDI-in-retail. If we go by their respective strengths, the fourteen parties who spoke against FDI-in-retail have a combined figure of 282 MPs whereas the four parties supporting the FDI-in-retail have a strength of 224 MPs in the House,” Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said.

The Congress, however, rejected the charge and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he was happy that the “FDIpolicy that we have put in place has the approval of this House (Lok Sabha).

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi added: “We are happy about the win and not worried about the Rajya Sabha (vote).”

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav rejected the charge that his walkout had helped the government sail through easily. “Whatever the party decides we do that exactly... We walked out because the government has neglected the interest of farmers and small traders,” SP chief said.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, however, slammed the government and said it was now reduced to minority.

“The mandate today proves that the UPA-II is a minority government. As against the majority figure of 271, based on the total strength of the House the support was only 253 despite all attempts made by the selfish people. This government has lost its credibility. They must take fresh verdict from the people,” she said.

Earlier, replying to the discussion in the Lok Sabha, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma dismissed the Opposition charge that the move would hurt small traders and farmers and that the government has rushed the decision.

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