FDI in retail: Pranab Mukherjee to meet PM, Sonia on impasse

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and thereafter the government will decide on how to resolve the impasse in Parliament over the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.

Mukherjee said Opposition leaders have suggested a roll-back of the decision and a discussion in Parliament on the issue under an adjournment motion.

"I informed them (Opposition leaders) that I will talk to the leadership -- Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. And thereafter, whatever decision government will take, you will come to know," he told reporters here.

Referring to his meeting with them earlier in the day, Mukherjee said, "They have given various suggestions. One of their suggestion is you roll-back... another suggestion has come that this should be discussed under an adjournment motion."

Mukherjee had met Opposition leaders over the issue, but the hour-long meeting failed to resolve the logjam in both Houses of Parliament.

Opposition parties led by the BJP and Left stuck to their stand in Parliament today and demanded a roll-back of the Cabinet decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.

Even UPA allies TMC and DMK, along with the SP and BSP, which lend outside support to the government, demanded that the decision should be revoked.

Both Houses were first adjourned as soon as they assembled at 1100 hours and then again after they reassembled at noon as members from the BJP, TRS, Left and other parties trooped into the Well.