‘Govt ready for no-confidence motion on FDI issue`

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: Gearing up for opposition attack on FDI during the upcoming Parliament session, government Friday asserted that it was ready to face any situation, including a No-Confidence Motion, even as it was reaching out to political parties to ensure passage of key bills. It ruled out any possibility of mid-term polls, saying the government will last its full term of five years till 2014. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and I&B Minister Manish Tewari, who were fielded before the media ahead of the Winter Session beginning November 22, said the government is ready to discuss any issue under any rule with the permission of the Chair. "The Parliament session has a very heavy legislative agenda. We are reaching out to the various political parties to carry through these agenda in the four weeks that we have for the session," said the Finance Minister. He noted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has met leaders of supporting parties and would be meeting UPA allies. "We sincerely hope that the forthcoming session will be a productive one and many bills will be passed," he said. The important economic agenda includes amendment of the Insurance Bill to raise FDI cap from 26 to 49 per cent, Banking Regulation Amendment Bill and Direct Taxes Code. When pointed out that the opposition was gearing up to target the government over FDI in multi-brand retail, Tewari said, "If they want to corner us, we no objection. We are ready to discuss anything if the rules permit. But if Parliament is not allowed to function, it would not be good for Parliamentary democracy." To a question about Trinamool Congress, a former ally of the UPA, threatening to move No-Confidence Motion, Sibal said, "it is the right of every political party to put any motion before the House. When the motion is brought before the House, we will face it." Meanwhile, sources today said that the Prime mInister is ready to make a statement on the FDI issue in Parliament when it convenes for the Winter Session. The sources also said that the Prime Minister could extend invitation to the NDA allies for dinner to evolve consensus on important bills and to ensure the smooth passage of the Winter Session. With PTI Inputs