Opposition parties are thrilled at their perceived win over the government, with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee announcing in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, a suspension of the decision to allow 51 % FDI in multi-brand retail trade.
While BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, in her statement, called the government’s step back a reflection of “public sentiments” and “democracy’s victory,” sources in her party said the Congress seemed to have “tied itself up” through Mukherjee’s statement.
According to sources in the BJP, the party may not have accepted the government’s statement had Mukherjee not clearly defined “stakeholders”.
“I am seeking your permission to provide the clarification that stakeholders include CMs of state governments and political parties because without the involvement of CMs, this can never be implemented,” Mukherjee said.
The sources said that while the Congress would probably be able to convince chief ministers of 12 states ruled by it and its allies in a few others, the seven BJP-ruled states and Bihar and Tamil Nadu would continue to oppose the UPA government if it planned to reintroduce the policy, even after assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are held.
The Left parties, on the other hand, inferred Mukherjee’s statement as a policy dead-end due to the lack of “consensus”.
Sources in the CPI(M) said that because Mukherjee had pitched the “suspension till a consensus is developed”, the road to recall the policy in the near future is blocked. “There is no possibility of consensus on this, so there’s no possibility of its implementation,” CPI(M) sources said.
Comments