New Delhi: 2:20 pm: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the UPA was united on FDI and was open for a discussion. He said the final call on whether or not to go for a vote on FDI will be taken by the Speaker.
2:15 pm: The Lok Sabha was adjourned till Thursday as the Opposition continued to raise slogans against FDI in retail.
12:30 pm: The DMK has said in a statement that it will support the UPA if a vote takes place on FDI in retail.
12:11 pm: The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm after an uproar over FDI in retail.
12:05 pm: While an uproar continued in the Lok Sabha over FDI in retail, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till Thursday after an uproar over the SC/ST quota bill.
11:55 am: BJP leader Arun Jaitley slammed the UPA for not agreeing for a vote on FDI. "The government is not ready for a long discussion. There is no basis for the government saying there is no need of voting. The essence of democracy is voting. This shows the government does not want the session to be on," Jaitley said.
11:15 am: Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha remained paralysed over the issue of FDI in retail for the fourth day on Tuesday. Bith Houses were adjourned till noon after an uproar and slogan raising by Opposition MPs against FDI. BJP MPs continued to demand a discussion on FDI followed by voting.
Earlier on Tuesday, BJP leaders Prakash Javadekar and Venkaiah Naidu gave a notice for the suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha and discussion on FDI under rule 184 which entails voting. This was decided at the BJP Parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, after Monday's inconclusive all-party meet, the UPA coordination committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the provision of voting. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, too, will meet Congress allies on the issue.
Sources say the government is against having a vote, but if forced to do so, it is sure of the support of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. Sources say the DMK is against FDI in retail but doesn't want voting, while other allies like the RLD, NCP and the National Conference are with the government for a discussion without vote.
However, sources say that the government is worried that if it sticks to it's stand of no vote, the deadlock in Parliament will continue. This is not something the government wants because it needs to pass important bills like insurance, banking and Lokpal to get over its policy paralysis and keep reforms on track. Sources say the government will convey its decision to the Speaker and the Opposition soon.
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