BJP may demand special session of Parliament, JD(U) not in favour

Seeing an opportunity to corner the UPA government after the exit of Trinamool Congress, BJP will demand a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of FDI in retail even though its key ally JD-U is not in favour.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani told PTI that the government will not last its full term till 2014 if Trinamool Congress goes ahead with its decision to exit the UPA.

Advani said his party would ask for a special session to discuss this issue and accused the government of committing a "breach of trust" of Parliament by going ahead with its decision on FDI in retail.

The party, however, said it will consult its allies of NDA after tomorrow's nationwide agitation against FDI in retail and diesel price hike before firming up its position.

"Yesterday's development has destabilised the present government. It is only a matter of time that it will collapse. The present government cannot last its full term till 2014. Anything can happen before that," Advani told PTI.

He said "we would request for convening of a special session of Parliament. We will make a formal request to the President for the special session after the September 20 nation-wide bandh called by us."

Advani said "the promise had been made to both houses of Parliament by the then Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee that we will not bring FDI in retail until a consensus is evolved with all stakeholders including all political parties and all Chief Ministers. Therefore, we hold that the announcement of FDI in retail is a breach of trust of Parliament."

The BJP leader said that "after tomorrow's bandh we will meet the Rashtrapati and recall the fact that when government had first introduced the FDI in retail, both houses of Parliament had opposed it."

He said now that they have done without having any discussion with anyone, not even its allies, "this matter has to be discussed afresh in a special session of Parliament".

Asked if NDA will make this demand, he said, "we will, most opposition parties, which are supporting the bandh, will."

JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, when asked about the need for convening a special session of Parliament said, there is "no need" for it as it will not solve any problem.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said "our leader L K Advani has said that we can demand a special session of Parliament on the issue" as the Prime Minister had promised on the floor of the House that this is an era of federalism and will try and build a consensus before bringing FDI in retail.

"We in NDA will decide on whether to convene a special session of Parliament... We will decide at the NDA meeting after tomorrow's nationwide bandh."