Opposition warns SP, BSP during FDI debate in LS

Apprehending that the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party would bail out the United Progressive Alliance on Foreign Direct Investment in retail, Opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday warned these parties as also Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam that history will not pardon them if they sided with the government on the issue despite opposing it during the nationwide protest.

Among those who made a scathing attack on the government over the issue were members of the Janata Dal-United, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Biju Janata Dal, Shiv Sena and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

UPA ally Nationalist Congress Party, which is a major partner in Maharashtra government, suggested it was not completely on board regarding implementation of FDI in retail, with its leader Praful Patel saying the state's Coordination Committee will assess its impact as it did not want small retailers to be hurt.

But at the same time, he rejected the Opposition contention that FDI was bad for the country.

Participating in the discussion on the issue, JDU leader Sharad Yadav said "history will not pardon you (Congress) if you implement this measure. I am telling this also to those who were with us in the 'Bharat Bandh'," called by the entire Opposition, including Left parties and the BJP in September to protest allowing of FDI in multi-brand retail.

Looking at SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav sitting in the front row, he recalled that SP, BSP and DMK were "with us" during the nationwide protest and said that 85 per cent of the people would be adversely affected by the move.

"Sit over it again, have more consultations and roll back the measure. If you do not roll back, then we will roll back your government..... You can win this battle but not the war," Yadav said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath was seen sitting with the SP chief for some time during the discussion while Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy was seen chatting with BSP leader Dara Singh Chauhan.