UPA running away from vote on FDI in Parliament

As things stand today it would be difficult for the UPA II government to muster enough support for FDI in multi-brand retail trade. Almost all political parties, except the Congress Party and some of its minor allies are against the decision to allow 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail trade. Many believed that after withdrawal of support by the All India Trinamool Congress, the UPAII government would apply reason and annul the decision to allow the multinational retail giants to open multi-brand retail outlets in India. Althesame has the government has been reduced to minority, is unconstitutional for a minority government to take such a vital decision to notify rules regarding FDI in multi-brand retail. Leader of Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Sudipt Bandopadhyay, is quite right that the present minority government is deviating away from the basic tenets of the constitution, particularly the preamble of the Constitution, which embodies clearly that “India is a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic” Only after due and diligent consideration, Indira Gandhi's government inserted the word 'socialist' to the Preamble of the Constitution, through the famous Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act in 1976. None of the subsequent government dared to drop this word, though several other constitutional amendments were carried out. Mrs. Mamta Banerjee has been consistent in her decision to oppose FDI in retail trade. The Communist parties have been opposing FDI in multi-brand retail trade persistently from the beginning. The BJP leaders have gone to the extent of warning the multinational retail chains aspiring to set up shops in India like Walmart and Tesco to think twice before investing in multi-brand shops because the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand might be annulled after the election, which will definitely see a change in government. Likewise, all opposition parties such as BJP, CPM, CPI, AIADMK, Janatha Dal (United), Telugudesam Party, Samajwadi Party, Bhahujan Samajwadi Party, and a host of other minor parties such as DMDK have expressed their strong resentment. The main ally of UPA, the Trinamool Congress, withdrew its support to the UPA government. Another allay of UPA, DMK, has also opposed FDI in mutli-brand retail trade. On October1, 2012, DMK demanded reconsideration of the decision to allow FDI in the multi-brand retail sector and said it would back any opposition-sponsored resolution that may be brought on the issue in Parliament. A resolution adopted at an emergency meeting of DMK Executive, on October1, 2012, stated as follows: “"Allowing FDI in multi-brand retail in the name of economic reforms will spell doom for developing countries like India." But now DMK seems to be in double mind. BSP supremo Mayawati is also in double mind. Both these parties have one and only agenda,i.e. to hoodwink CBI inquiry!

Dr.C.Murukadas, The Times of India,  Nov. 26, 2012