Trinamool stand on FDI only after Speaker takes decision

With the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left sticking to their demand for a discussion on Foreign Direct Investment in retail under a rule that entails voting, former United Progressive Alliance ally Trinamool Congress on Wednesday said it would take a stand only after Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar took a decision, but ruled out voting in favour of the government.

"We shall take a stand only after the Speaker takes a decision and communicates it. Our party will then take a stand. The Trinamool has to oppose FDI. We cannot vote in favour of the government under any circumstances," senior TMC leader and former Union Minister Saugata Roy, who is now in Delhi, told PTI.

Without elaborating further, Roy, TMC Lok Sabha member, said the Parliament logjam should end and that the House should transact its business.

He criticised the Congress-led coalition and said his party withdrew support to the government in the wake of hike in diesel prices, cap on LPG cylinders and the decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.

"We wanted to table a no-confidence motion against the government. We are unhappy that it did not get support (from BJP, Left and other parties)," he said.