New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) The Communist Party of India−Marxist (CPI−M) Thursday welcomed the decision for debate with vote on retail FDI in both houses, while slamming the government for not agreeing to it earlier. "Finally, the government agreed to have a debate on FDI with vote, but if they would have done it earlier, so much time would not have been lost," CPI−M leader Sitaram Yechury said
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) Where does the Samajwadi Party (SP), which props the UPA government, stand on the issue of foreign investment in retail? On Thursday, it was an impossible to answer question even though party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav spoke on the issue as did his brother Ram Gopal Yadav. Throwing a political googly of sorts, Mulayam Singh said the party would wait for the "right opportunity" to take a decision, shortly after his brother and party leader said it would vote against the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) It should have been marshalling its strengths to take on the Congress with balloting in several states next year and general elections due in 2014, but India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is instead battling internal demons that have led to strains and tensions between its top leaders. Murmurs against party president Nitin Gadkari over charges of financial impropriety and corporate wrongdoing linked to his Purti Group of companies have reached a crescendo, embarrassing the party that once prided itself on its discipline. It was already being plagued by problems in its state units, including Karnataka, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, but this is a virtual implosion.
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) The Samajwadi Party (SP) Thursday said it would vote against foreign direct investment in multi−brand retail in the Rajya Sabha even as it continues to support the government on the issue in the Lok Sabha. "If there is a vote on FDI in Rajya Sabha we will vote against it we will not let it pass," party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar allowed a debate with voting rights under rule 184 in the upper house
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee will leave Friday on a three−day trip to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The president will be part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Tamil Nadu assembly Nov
Kolkata, Nov 29 (IANS) Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju has described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as "intolerant and whimsical" and warned she would lose power if she did not change. In a letter to her, Katju sought against policemen who arrested Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra and farmer Shiladitya Chowdhury, the first for circulating a cartoon of the chief minister and the second for questioning her policies
−−Indo−Asian News Service ao−rn/vm
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) The Left Thursday urged the human resources development ministry to force Delhi University to discuss issues raised by its protesting teachers instead of resorting to "coercive steps".
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) The government Thursday agreed to a debate with voting on foreign investment in multi−brand retail in the Rajya Sabha. Addressing reporters outside Parliament House, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Sukla said: "The government has agreed to a debate with voting." The decision came soon after Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar agreed to a debate with voting in the lower house on allowing foreign direct investment in multi−brand retail. Earlier, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after members created ruckus over their demand for quota in job promotions and for debate with voting on FDI.
New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) The debate on allowing foreign investment in multi−brand retail would be discussed with voting in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, signalling an end to the logjam in parliament over the issue.
