But for Mayawati’s gesture, Opposition would have come pretty close to half-way mark
The ordeal is over for the United Progressive Alliance government which on Friday won the vote on the policy on FDI in multi-brand retail sector in the Rajya Sabha with generous help yet again from the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party.
Just before the Opposition motion was put to vote, the SP walked out, reducing the effective strength of the House by nine members. The BSP’s 15 MPs voted against the motion that “disapproved’’ of the government’s decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail sector. The BSP said it backed the UPA to thwart Opposition attempts to demand the resignation of the Manmohan government on the ground that it did not enjoy a majority.
Subject to confirmation, the Opposition motion was defeated, with 102 members voting in favour and 123 against it. Voting was done twice as in the first exercise some aberrations crept in in the machines.
Clearly it was Mayawati’s BSP which made all the difference. Had the BSP not voted against the motion, the Opposition would have managed to come pretty close to the half-way mark. Those who voted against the motion included nine nominated members and six independents.
Among the voters was actress Rekha in one of her rare appearances. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Congress member Murli Deora, BJD member Pyarimohan Mohapatra and B.N. Singh of the JD(U) were not present. Two ailing members in wheelchair were allowed to vote in the lobby.
“If the UPA wins this vote, it will be the victory of the UPA’s manoeuvrability, not of the FDI policy which has been opposed by a majority of parties in the House,” said AIADMK leader V. Maitreyan in his reply to a staunch defence of the policy by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is the Leader of the House, was present throughout the debate.
“The people will reply in the 2014 polls and I give a solemn assurance that the next government that comes to power will reverse this decision of the UPA,” the AIADMK member said amid thumping of desks by Opposition members.
Earlier, D. Raja of the CPI said the “sense of the House” was against the policy and the government should respect that.
Mr. Sharma was interrupted on several occasions as he opposed the motion but when he quoted from the report of a committee headed by JD(U) member N.K. Singh during the National Democratic Alliance regime to say it had recommended FDI in retail, there was uproar. For several minutes, Opposition members including from the Left demanded that Mr. Singh be allowed to reply.
Through the din, Mr. Singh said the committee had concluded that FDI should not be allowed in the country. At this, BJP members were on their feet, demanding that the Minister apologise, prompting Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien, who was in the chair, to adjourn the House for over an hour.
When it reassembled, Mr. Singh said the Minister should not have read out “selective portions” from his report. Mr. Sharma said he meant no disrespect and before he was interrupted he asked why the panel had changed its mind.
While agreeing with Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley that more could be done in the manufacturing sector, Mr. Sharma said it was proposed to create dedicated national investment zones to make India a “manufacturing hub.”
Keywords: FDI in retail, Rajya Sabha, winter session, Parliament, Arun Jaitley, Hamid Ansari, UPA, BJP, Samajwadi Party, Ashwani Kumar, Anand Sharma
In all the discussions on the topic there was not a single reference to what needs to
be done to support the Retail Trade as it exists now, their problems if any, who they
are and what they are. It was more a debate or a seminar on Wall Mart. Since so
much research seems to have been done on the Company, it should be possible to
legislate against all its 'evil intentions' . The Retail trade as it exists now is historical,
and most certainly needs to adapt itself, Wall Mart or no no Wall Mart. The
constructive role for all those good samaritans could be to identify what needs to be
done to help them and initiate positive, active steps to 'change and adapt'. After all
in the ultimate analysis they only exist to serve the Consumer. Let us not forget or
ignore this Consumer in all the excitements and abuses.
You say Govt. scrapes thru , but in the report you say motion concincingly defeated . Perhaps U are convinced as it was BJP that lost
Let them invest in our country.We will promote only Indian traders.
FDI is a NEED for India to develop the back-end infrastructure in
retail. Yes, there will be minor problems for the "mom & pop" stores.
Maybe, at the maximum 100 million small shop owners will suffer in the
short term; but long term, this will benefit nearly 1100 million Indian
consumers. For UPA II, this and the direct Cash Transfer to poor people
will be considered as the significant milestones in Public Policy. The
naysayers always will look at the negatives, and forget about the
positives of any Reform Agenda. A good day for India's Reform Agenda.
this country is doomed ! Say good buy to our good old small retail shop.
I want to ask all the voters(MP`S) who voted in favor of FDI in retail who offered tall talks on How farmer will be out of the clutches of Bichowlias/Arthiyas & how 5 to 9 madhyavarthies will be driven out and how farmer will get a fair price? Really ? UPA II must understand that there are more than 600 million farmers in India, out of which 83% own farm lands less than 2ha. Before making big Bhashans in the parliament I don`t think any responsible minister has understood the logistics of how to buy from such a large group of small farmers or were they deliberately playing it down as they wanted to win. Walmart or carrefour will not even enter into this messy area of buying from farmers who own lands >2 ha, many of them even 1/2 acre. Thuth! 83% of the farmers will be left where they were? Let us say the logistics will be sorted out by a new Einstein or Bill gates with a new Innovation of how to do this but these dunder head MP`s must understand that walmart or carrefour or reliancefresh
The F.D.I. in Brand retail sector Bill has been passed in both the
houses of Parliament . The Question arises that What impact will be to
the Small trader and Business in coming future as the Trader is in
Dilemma . The main question is that with the approval of this Bill in
both the houses of Parliament has ruled out the perceptions of early
Parliament Polls .
Walking out of House is only a drama in which these parties, SP and others, tried to save their public face and also going along with Government. They keep on proving how foolish we are.
WalMart- the multi billion $$$$$ congolemorate is in a fix.They had already paid slush or 'speed' money as it is called in US and the amount not much as per their standards, yet a businessman is a business man and he would'nt pay a cent extra- thats the mantra of all multinationals. The amount as per Indian standards staggering. really astronomic $359 million multiply by the aggregate exchange rate of 55 rupees= 19745 million rupees in other words 1975 crores rupees. Now all the ground work was done by Anand Sharma and Kamalnath- the famous 15% minister. Moreover the concluding remarks also equally was disturbing for Walmart as Dr Matriyein clearly mentioned that this decision of FDI in multi brand retail will be reversed once they have to do anything with power in the national governance. So now Walmart and their other competitors are having more sleepless nights as their concern is multiplied by the fact that the present govt is in a minority as rightly said by the opposition members. The outcome of the Gujarat polls will either way will be the proverbial last nail in the coffin of the UPA II. The world watched with utmost interest and to beleive one source the commerce department of the US was particularly interested. This all shows the wayward policies of the UPA and wish the earlier they perish the better for the country.
The minimum Indian MSME goods limit should be raised to 50%. Let the capitalists invest in the rural India.
This is a good beginning and will help in modernizing the supply chain. This will be a win win situation for farmers and consumers. We will have to see which will be the first state to implement and benefit from the new policy of FDI in multi brand retail. Other states will then follow the leading states.
1. Foreign investment is not a problem
2. How it'll include the poor people into the larger economic foray, is in question.
3. All the arguments coming from the both sides, seems real.
4. But still we can't connect all the dots simultaneously. means, something is missing.
Then, why not the govt come-up with a white paper or something like that, on FDI?
Many (experts and others with common sense) had analysed extensively
in many forums on why FDI in retail is not a sustainable option for
India. However, while the UPA is repeatedly, ad nauseam, champions FDI
it had not so far given a single convincing argument of how it benefit
the poor or the farmers?
Now, I believe most the public would agree on how the politics works
and the failure to defeat FDI has nothing to do with the farmers or
the poor. The public would also agree, how majority of the MPs make
their choices... So, at this juncture, the success of the UPA is only
a defeat of the FDI of the Country's future!!!
I'd wholeheartedly support the UPA's move had it been able to give at
least one rational, convincing reason - which it had failed to give so
far...
Why FDI? Why not IGDI (Indian Government Direct Investment). Central Government is making so many plan like direct cash subsidy, manrega, etc.. why not government create the skeleton for IGDI on the same line FDI will do ?
How FDI-retail is different from indegenus super market chains by Reliance etc? What is the need to bring them? We loose lakhs for few thousands of jobs created
Please Email the Editor