Opposition bites govt’s FDI bait

Even an adversity has some virtues. After its decision to allow FDI in the retail sector, the UPA government has been under fire from all sides — not just from the opposition, but from its allies and Congress MPs. However, crisis managers are not overtly worried or under pressure and are enjoying the discomfort of the opposition.

“Now the issues of black money and price rise, which are dear to the opposition, have been lost in the background. After raising storm for the 38 days of his awareness yatra on black money, senior BJP leader LK Advani could not have the opportunity to talk about it in parliament,” a senior minister said.

Like wise, the Left parties have lost the opportunity to attack the government on the issue of price rise. “They have only themselves to blame for this situation, as we were ready for a debate on both the issues on the terms set by them,” the minister added.

With divergent voices heard even in the cabinet, fireworks were expected in parliament on the FDI issue. So, now the government side is merely paying lip service to the loss of costly parliamentary time, as it does not have the same regret that it had when the last winter session was lost due to opposition’s demand for a JPC to probe the 2G scam.” 

At that time, the government was seen on the defensive, and the popular perception was that there was an attempt at cover-up as it stonewalled the demand. “But now, we are not on the defensive,” a senior MP said.

This time, there is a qualitative difference. The government has been able to pick holes in the BJP’s criticism of the FDI decision and pointed out that the issue was a part of the NDA’s vision document in 2004. “Even the Left’s opposition is mere posturing, as Indian private organised retail chains have been doing big business in their West Bengal,” the MP added.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has explained to the party MPs that their doubts about the timing of the decision are misplaced. The party MPs have also come round to the view that this is the right time as the government has wrested the initiative from the opposition in the public domain.

In this scenario, no one is taking the pressure from the allies lightly, but there is a degree of comfort on the basis of the realisation that neither the DMK nor the TMC would rock the boat. As Mukherjee has put it, this is just an enabling provision, and states are free to take decision about allowing foreign companies to set shop.

Even on the issue of the wording of the adjournment motion, which now has the unacceptable r-word (rollback), the government feels that it is not as much a matter of principle as of ego. “There was an indication during back channel talks that some leaders were game for a different language, but then the BJP shot down that idea,” said a cabinet minister. So, for once even a united opposition has some problems.