FDI in retail: Mamata says decision on hold, NCP 'happy'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/FDI-in-retail-Mamata-says-decision-on-hold-Pawars-party-happy/articleshow/10972589.cms

FDI in retail: Mamata says decision on hold, NCP 'happy'
PTI | Dec 3, 2011, 09.01PM IST

NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: In a sudden turn of events, the Centre has decided
to put on hold the controversial decision on FDI in retail sector, in
an apparent bid to break the Parliament logjam.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party Trinamool
Congress is strongly opposed to the decision, made an announcement
here that Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee spoke to her and
told her that the FDI decision has been "suspended".

"It is not temporary...until and unless consensus is evolved, the
issue (decision on FDI in retail) is suspended," she told reporters
here.
"Pranabda sought our opinion on the issue and we told him that the
Trinamool Congress remains firm. He informed me that the cabinet
decision on FDI entry in retail will be suspended until and unless a
consensus is evolved," Banerjee said. "If that is so, the issue is
settled," she said.

"The matter is crystal clear and you may ask Pranab Mukherjee," the
chief minister added.

Mukherjee, who is in the city today and visited the ailing mother of
the Chief Minister at a local hospital, however, could not be
contacted.

She said that the finance minister tried to contact her several times.
Later, he asked her how to thrash out a solution to the FDI issue.

"I too was preoccupied. But I talked to him over phone twice and
during the short period, I consulted senior leaders of my party," she
said.

Banerjee said she spoke over telephone with Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh yesterday when he had requested her to reconsider her party's
stand on the issue.

"I also assured him that Trinamool Congress does not want to topple
the government. But at the same time, we are not in favour of FDI in
the retail sector," she said, adding Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi
had strongly opposed the decision at the cabinet meeting as well as
Parliamentary Party chief Sudip Bandhopadyaya.

Banerjee said that a coalition governmen could not be run on the
opinion of one party and a policy decision evolved when two opinions
converged.
"Trinamool Congress is always in favour of farmers, retailers and
small traders," she said congratulating all political parties who
opposed the decision.

Banerjee, however, strongly denied a report that her government was
seeking a special package from the Centre on condition of her party's
support on the FDI issue.

For the last one week, Parliament has been paralysed on the FDI issue
with opposition parties demanding a roll-back.

The Prime Minister has told the allies that it will be difficult to
rollback the decision.

NCP supports decision to put FDI on hold
IANS adds from New Delhi: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a
constituent of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Saturday said
the government's decision to put "on hold" the move to allow Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI) in retail was "correct" and will pave the way
for ending the logjam in parliament.

"It is a correct decision to put it on hold... We are happy that the
government has found a way out of the confrontationist attitude taken
by the opposition," NCP spokesperson D.P. Tripathi said.

Referring to remarks of West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool
Congress chief Mamata Banerjee that the central government had decided
to suspend implementation of the decision to allow FDI in retail,
Tripathi said his party was "happy that one of the UPA allies had
announced the decision".

He said if there is a logjam, it is the responsibility of the
government to find a way out. "Parliament's functioning is important,"
he said. Tripathi said his party favoured wider consultations on
crucial issues.