Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Wednesday said that her party had 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 on FDI, the division among political parties was visibly clear with majority political parties opposing the government move. Participating in the debate on FDI in the Rajya Sabha, Mayawati accused the BJP of double-speak and communalism and said that she did not want to vote with them.
“If the opposition’s motion succeeds in the Rajya Sabha, it could get a chance to play politics, which might lead to important Bills such as that on reservations in promotions to backward castes and the Lokpal Bill hanging indefinitely,” she said. Saying that she was not afraid of the CBI, Mayawati said: “I would like to say with conviction that we are not afraid of the CBI. We are not afraid even in worst time. We have never misused power.”
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and Derek o’ Brien of Trinamool Congress also opposed the FDI in retail. Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agrawal wanted the government to reconsider its decision. DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said that the DMK “morally and in principle is opposing FDI in the retail sector”, But, today, against the motion, we are supporting the Government.”
Yogendra Trivedi of the NCP said that there should be consensus and proper consultations on FDI. “We are supporting FDI in retail. But, at the same time, we are concerned,” he said.
Shashi Bhusan Behera of the BJD said that the entry of FDI in the multi-brand retail trade is totally against the interests of our common people. C M Ramesh of the TDP said that his party vehemently and vociferously opposes FDI in retail.
‘Only Congress backs FDI in retail’
BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said that “only Congress is supporting the FDI in retail”. Maintaining that FDI in retail will lead to widespread displacement of people from their jobs, Naidu said: “Today, the situation in Parliament is such that no party except Congress wants FDI in retail, including their allies”.