New Delhi, Dec 5 (IANS) The Congress Monday said the government has ‘paused’ the decision on foreign equity in retail and any announcement on its future would only be made in parliament.
‘This is just a pause. Any annoucement can be made only in parliament and we have an open mind on the issue,’ Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary told reporters.
There is still no clarity from the government on the FDI issue after key ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is opposed to the move, Saturday quoted Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as saying that the decision had been put on hold till a consensus emerges.
However, Chaudhary said ‘there is no problem in managing the allies’, and ‘the party is waiting for parliament to function.’
‘We want to take everybody together,’ she said, adding ‘consultations are on and allies were consulted before the decision.’
She expressed hope ‘Mamata will see reason.’
The Congress spokesperson criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party for its ‘double standards’ on the issue and said the party tends to forget what is used to say on the FDI issue in 2002.
She said the BJP had favoured FDI in retail in 2002.
‘The BJP should substantiate why it is demanding a roll back of the FDI in retail,’ said Chaudhary.
The Congress spokesperson also clarified that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is believed to have pushed the FDI in retail proposal in the cabinet, is ‘not alone’ on the issue in the party.
