Vote on FDI: Maya keeps UPA guessing

BSP chief Mayawati has stopped short of announcing full support to UPA in the tussle over foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail. But she has signalled that she wants to keep communal forces (referring to the BJP) at bay.

The Congress on Monday maintained that they were “still in talks with BSP”, but party insiders exuded confidence that BSP will not disappoint UPA.

The debate on FDI in retail is slated to begin in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.

Taking cognizance of the fact that the BSP wanted the Constitutional Amendment Bill providing for promotions for SC/STs in government jobs to be priortised and tabled in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath on Monday said, “Government is committed to the Constitution Amendment Bill. It is introduced in the Rajya Sabha. It is Number One in the list of business.”

Mayawati had said though she was not in favour of FDI in retail, she had taken note of the fact that it would not be imposed on states. “The only plus point of this policy of the Centre is that if a state does not want to implement the FDI policy, it will not be forcefully imposed on that state. Our party has taken serious note of this.”