BSP yet to spell out its stand on FDI in Parliament

The Bahujan Samaj Party on Thursday kept its cards close to its chest on the issue of a debate in Parliament on FDI in retail, saying the government should first decide under what rule it wanted such a discussion.

"The Centre should first decide under which rule it wanted discussion in Parliament on FDI. First government has to decide, then we will make our stand clear on the floor of the house," BSP chief Mayawati told reporters outside Parliament when asked about her stand on the issue.

Asked whether she will support Mamata Banerjee led the Trinamool Congress'no-confidence motion, she said, "The government should first decide under which rule, then we will decide on it."

Over the issue of reservation to SCs/STs in promotions, Mayawati said, "We have struggled a lot for bringing amendment to the SC/ST promotion Bill. We have struggled outside and inside Parliament to bring the Bill in Parliament. Because of our party's struggle, Cabinet approved the Bill".

"Because it is an amendment, there has to be voting. The government had brought the Bill at the fag end of the last session. Thursday is the first day of the winter session. Our party has called a meeting of MPs yesterday and it was decided that we have to raise the SC/ST amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha.

"We want to ask the government to postpone other business of the House and take up the Bill. The government should decide when the Bill will come up in the House. That is why we did not allow the House to function over the issue and the House was adjourned," she said.

On BSP members creating an uproar in Lok Sabha over the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and demanding dismissal of the Akhilesh Yadav government, the former UP chief minister said, "Our party has decided to raise the law and order situation in

Uttar Pradesh in Lok Sabha. We want to draw people's notice to the anarchy in UP. UP has become crime pradesh now. So, Centre should intervene and declare President's rule."

"The UP situation is serious and we did not allow the Lok Sabha to run over the issue. It is very important to bring it to Centre's attention. So, we raised the issue in Lok Sabha," she said.