Vote on FDI: Meira Kumar holds crucial meet
New Delhi, Nov. 29 (ANI)
With the Congress-led UPA Government working out modalities for debate in Parliament on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath met Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar here on Thursday.
"I am not worried on any count. I am worried that Parliament must function and whatever be the demands if they are reasonable, we are willing to accept them because a majority of MPs are saying that they want Parliament to run. They want Parliament to run and that is going to be my endeavor," Kamal Nath told mediapersons ahead of the meeting.
"I do hope that we will break some kind of impasse today," he added.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, also met Speaker Meira Kumar today. She appeared firm of the view that discussion should take place under Rule 184.
The government has hinted at having no problem with a vote on retail.
Kamal Nath accompanied by his deputy Rajiv Shukla met Leaders of Opposition, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, yesterday.
They, however, failed to persuade the BJP leaders to soften their stand on demanding a vote on the government's decision to allow FDI in retail.
Kamal Nath after the meeting yesterday said the presiding officers of both houses could take an appropriate decision in the interest of running the Parliament.
Four days of the Winter Session of Parliament have been lost to the standoff on the issue of FDI in retail.