Highlights of FDI debate in Rajya Sabha

The Samajwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav Thursday announced that it would abstain from voting on FDI in multi-brand retail in the Rajya Sabha.

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party (SP) led by Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday announced that it would abstain from voting on FDI in multi-brand retail in the Rajya Sabha. “Samajwadi Party will walkout from the Rajya Sabha during the vote on FDI,” party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said. SP’s decision came after its arch rival Bahujan Samaj Party’s supremo Mayawati said that her party will vote in favour of the government when voting is held in the Upper House on FDI on Friday. DMK leader Tiruchi Siva also had some good news for the government. “DMK has never let down friends; will always be with UPA,” Siva said. The Congress and its allies had defeated the Opposition-backed motion over FDI in multi-brand retail in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Upper House, Rajya Sabha, is discussing the issue today and tomorrow. The government had sailed through in Lok Sabha after the SP and BSP staged a walkout ahead of the voting. The Opposition dismissed the government’s victory in Lok Sabha alleging that it misused enforcement agencies like the CBI to intimidate SP and BSP and win votes in the Lower House. Besides Mayawati, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury took part in the debate. While Jaitley spiritedly rejected the FDI policy of the government, Yechury opined that the government should rethink its decision. Samajwadi Party’s Naresh Agrawal also spoke. He asked the government to rethink the decision. Mayawati said that though her party has apprehensions about the FDI policy but she will still go with the government at this juncture. However, she used the better part of her speech to take on the BJP. She slammed Sushma Swaraj for her comment that BSP is supporting the government on FDI as it fears the CBI. Highlights of the FDI debate in Rajya Sabha:

The first day of debate on FDI in retail has concluded in Rajya Sabha

Venkaiah Naidu apologises to Prabha Thakur over his comment

I asked BJP about Purti companies, he (Naidu) said kaise bewakoof Parliament mein aa gaye hain, says Prabha Thakur

This is the real face of the BJP and the Sangh: Lalu Prasad Yadav after Naidu`s remark on Prabha Thakur

Congress leader Prabha Thakur weeps outside Parliament after BJP leader Venkaih Naidu calls her a `bewakoof`. Lalu Yadav condemns BJP Venkaiah Naidu

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had once said we should not make policies that are anti-national. How come he has changed his mind now, asks Naidu

The government has pushed the FDI in retail without even consulting its allies, says Naidu

A government which is in minority cannot take such a big decision and impose it on the country, says Naidu

If you had consulted political parties, this situation would not have arisen, says BJP`s Venkaiah Naidu Mayawati

BSP will support government on FDI in multi-brand retail when it will come up for voting, says Mayawati

After the policy is implemented in Congress ruled states, its impact should be review at Parliamentary level before going ahead with it, she feels

The biggest plus point of the existing FDI policy is that it won’t be imposed on any state

Mayawati condemns Sushma Swaraj’s comments, lead to ruckus in the house. BJP`s behaviour resembles that of a fox, it’s a case of sour grapes, says Mayawati

She accuses Sushma Swaraj of making baseless allegations against party. Sushma Swaraj had alleged that CBI is being used to get BSP’s support on FDI in retail

It has become fashionable to accuse us of being under pressure from CBI, feels Mayawati

Mayawati lists how BJP had used CBI against her when it was in power. BJP misused CBI to frame me in Taj Corridor case, says Mayawati

We are not scared of CBI, says Mayawati Arun Jaitley

The UPA government is a lame duck government since its own allies are opposing the FDI move

You (Govt) are dependent on support. When you are 18 short of majority, then you cannot run the government as you please, says Arun Jaitley

You cannot touch the 272 mark in Lok Sabha - you will need support and help. And whenever you need help, you have to compromise and pay a price and the support comes at a huge price, Jaitley further said

Jaitley tells House that FDI will collapse manufacturing sector and make India a nation of traders. He argued that reforms are needed in the manufacturing sector before India can introduce FDI in multi-brand retail

We will have stores owned by the Americans, French, and British, selling Chinese products and India will become a nation of sales boys and girls, Jaitley said

FDI move will ruin the small traders and lead to monopolistic tendencies. Just because some countries have allowed it, does it mean we will also do it, says Jaitley Sitaram Yechury

FDI in retail is not beneficial for the country, the government should rethink its decision, says Yechury

Increase in employment due to FDI in retail is a myth, feels Yechury

What happened of the promised advantages of Indo-US nuclear deal?

Wal-Mart’s profits today is USD 36 billion/year

In a system of a single buyer and a single seller, the chances of prices going up is very high. MNCS will not pay attention to required safety standards

It will only benefit foreign companies and not farmers and consumers.

We`re unable to make our own cold storage facilities, do you think foreign companies will? He asks Naresh Agrawal

Don’t allow another East Indian Company enter India, the first one entered through Kolkata and ruled for 200 years, says Agrawal

SP is opposed to Wal-Mart. We speak for the traders of India, asserts Agrawal

SP has not propped up the government nor will it be responsible for its downfall

No need to conduct voting, govt should reconsider decision, says Agrawal