On the action-packed first day of the winter session of Parliament on Thursday, the Trinamool Congress’s attempt to bring a no-confidence motion against the UPA government in the Lok Sabha failed. The Opposition, however, insisted that the government agree on a motion with voting on its decision to allow foreign investors in multi-brand retail. No business could be transacted as both Houses witnessed ruckus and were adjourned repeatedly.
A major consequence of the Trinamool’s failure to move the motion is that another one cannot be considered by the Lok Sabha for the next six months.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury charged Mamata Banerjee’s party with coming to the rescue of the ruling United Progressive Alliance and giving it a “reprieve” till at least May next year.
The former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and distinguished scholar on parliamentary procedures, Subhash Kashyap, told The Hindu: “Once a no-confidence motion moved by a member falls as a consequence of [his/her] not mustering the required 50 members…, another motion cannot be moved for at least six months.”
In the Rajya Sabha, vociferous members of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) drowned the voices of others raising the demand for a constitutional amendment to provide the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes with reservation in promotions.
Once the House disposed of the Trinamool’s no-trust motion, the focus was on the demand for a discussion on FDI in multi-brand retail under Rule 184, which entails voting. Amid din, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj managed to explain why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were insisting on a motion with voting.
Speaker Meira Kumar repeatedly adjourned the House as the Opposition members did not relent. In the afternoon, it was adjourned for the day.
The BJP as well as its allies and the Left have served notice for a discussion on FDI under Rule 184. The Samajwadi Party has also given notice for an adjournment motion on the issue, which Ms. Kumar said was under her consideration.
Pressing for a discussion on FDI in retail under Rule 184, Ms. Swaraj charged the government with showing contempt for the assurances given by the then Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. She pointed out that Mr. Mukherjee had assured the House that the government, which had put the decision on hold, would re-visit it only after consultations with the stakeholders, including the States and political parties. The government’s decision amounted to a “gross insult” of Parliament.
In the Rajya Sabha, Prasanta Chatterjee and K.N. Balagopal of the CPI(M) gave a privilege notice against Commerce Minister Anand Sharma for the alleged contravention of the assurance given in December 2011 on suspension of FDI in multi-brand retail until consensus was evolved among the stakeholders.
The day saw three adjournments of the Lok Sabha, while the Rajya Sabha called it a day after two adjournments. In the Rajya Sabha, there was uproar over FDI in retail and reservation for the SCs/STs in promotions.
Members of the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Trinamool Congress stormed the well in the Lok Sabha, and those of the BSP and the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha.
The BSP members demanded the dismissal of the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh. The Speaker disallowed a notice by the BSP for an adjournment motion on the law and order situation in the State.
Keywords: Parliament session, Winter Session, FDI in retail, no-confidence motion, Manmohan Singh, UPA government
(1) FDI in retail is provoking various views and responses. The no
confidence motion is the most absurd of all such responses as
Trinamool Congress is a small party in national politics. (2) Basic
issue in FDI in retail is to deal with inefficiencies in the country’s
retail sector. Citizens feel that these will be done away with by FDI
investors, as they will considerably improve distribution. (3) The
wide gap between prices paid by farmers and consumers needs to be
narrowed. Political parties must understand that citizens (consumers
and farmers at large) want their interests to be taken care of, with
or without FDI. (4) Are consumers, who far outnumber the traders, not
more important for these parties? (5) If instead of FDI, our own
companies are able to improve our retail sector without interference
from Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, consumers and farmers
would welcome such arrangement as foreign capital is only an enabling
factor for making retail sector more efficient.
If there is anything similar to losing a face in politics, TMC has lost it totally. Now they should try to redeem themselves and start anew.
Back to the same old game. BTW, what happened to the coalgate? It seems
to be completely forgotten. What has changed between the last session
and this one that it is no longer an issue? This exposes the hypocrisy
of the BJP. It shows that the premier opposition party has made up its
mind to disrupt parliament and is choosing one issue or other as an
excuse. Even the JDU is getting impatient of this as indicated by Sharad
Yadav and BJP should realize that the mood of the nation is against the
disruption and change their stand otherwise they will become irrelevent.
It feels that once again the stage is ready, curtains lifted, now the
drama will start. All the characters already being fixed during serial lunch parties at director's place.
Each one know his role very well. The only difference is instead of enjoying, the public will suffer by this drama and there is no choice but mandatory not to criticize it otherwise organizers and securities will make you land in alien places
blamed with impropriety.
Mamataji, You stunned the Country by winning the assembly elections in
West Bengal with your charisma. Once in power, you have become
impatient and you are taking one wrong decision after the other.
People are losing their confidence in your leadership. You need to
calm yourself and approach all issues in a balanced manner. You have
to properly analyze each and every issue, make sure that you will be
in a position to accomplish your goal and then proceed suitably. You
have to build relationships with other political parties and gain
their respect. Otherwise you will be in for a shock in the next lok
sabha elections.
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