Difficult to withdraw FDI decision: PM to allies

Difficult to withdraw FDI decision: PM to allies

With Parliament deadlock escalating, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told the allies that it will be difficult to withdraw the decision to allow FDI in retail and that they should vote with the government on the issue.

As Opposition remained united on the demand for an adjournment motion on the issue, Singh and UPA trouble-shooter Pranab Mukherjee are believed to have conveyed to the allies that the economic situation was very difficult and there are worries about the GDP growth rate.

It is a decision taken by the Cabinet in a difficult environment and it will be difficult to go back, they told the leaders, according to Union Minister and Trinamool Parliamentary Party chief Sudip Bandopadhyay, who said his party does not want the government to fall.

As Parliament remained paralysed for the eighth straight day, Government and the Congress party expressed confidence that the ruling coalition has its numbers and dared the opposition to move a no-confidence motion.

However, a source among the allies said Mukherjee, who is also Leader of the Lok Sabha, told them that censure motion is not a no-confidence motion but its adoption would seriously dent the credibility of the government.

Leaders of the allied parties, Trinamool Congress and the DMK which account for 18 MPs each, and smaller parties NCP, National Conference and IUML attended the meeting in the wake of strong opposition from Trinamool and DMK to the government's decision to allow FDI in retail.

TMC and DMK, however, maintained their opposition to the policy of FDI in retail and sought its withdrawal. They also wanted a discussion in Parliament on the issue.