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Govt media team to defend FDI decision
In the line of fire of the Opposition as well as its allies on the issue of FDI in retail, the Government on Friday launched a major media offensive by fielding 17 Union Ministers — including seven from the GoM on Media — to defend the controversial decision which has politically isolated the ruling Congress. Interestingly, the occasion was the launch of the DAVP calendar.
Along with senior Ministers like Ambika Soni, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Salman Khurshid, Kapil Sibal, Pawan Bansal and P Chidambaram, the 11 new spokespersons — including Rajiv Shukla, RPN Singh and Sachin Pilot — vociferously defended the Government’s decision.
Seeking to play down the rift with allies, I&B Minister Ambika Soni said that though Trinamool Congress and DMK are against FDI in retail, they are not with the Opposition in bringing an adjournment motion. “The allies have some reservations about certain aspects of FDI in retail, but the Government is making efforts to convince them,” she added.
Pointing out that the Prime Minister too has spoken to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee and similar efforts are being made to convince other parties, she expressed optimism that the crisis would be resolved during the four-day extended weekend through talking to various parties.
Denying that the PM and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi are not on the same page, Soni said, “Don’t try to see the ghost where none exists.”
On BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s criticism of Sonia for not taking a stand, she said the Congress Core Group, which met twice in the past and even on Friday to discuss the strategy to be adopted on FDI, is chaired by Sonia, which meant all decisions have her consent.
Asked if the Government is considering putting the FDI decision on hold, MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said it was one of the suggestions being explored even as discussions on the adjournment motion were on.
The 17-member ministerial contingent was unanimous in criticising the Opposition for stalling the Parliament. Terming BJP as “FDI: frustrated, desperate and insular”, they said it was blocking the Government to take policy decisions by insisting on voting and censuring it on every issue instead of allowing discussion.
Asserting that the ruling regime was not running away from voting on the motion, Khurshid said it was a confident Government. Azad maintained that realising political compulsions of allies, the Congress is trying to explain that they could still stall implementation in respective States.
The new spokespersons insisted FDI in retail is beneficial for everyone.
