Govt using institutions to win allies on FDI, alleges BJP

New Delhi: Realising that the UPA government has mustered the numbers for the debate and voting on foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday alleged that it uses institutions to win the support of other parties and said division of votes would "expose" such organisations.

"We are ready for a discussion on FDI in retail only under Rule 184 (which entails voting). The country wants to know which party really supports or opposes FDI in retail. There were some parties which were earlier opposed to it but are now supporting FDI," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

The government has reached out to its ally, the DMK, and parties like the Samajwadi Party and the BSP to win their support on FDI in retail decision.

The government has reached out to its ally, the DMK, and parties like the Samajwadi Party and the BSP to win their support on FDI.

While DMK chief M Karunanidhi said his party would support the government in Parliament on FDI to keep communal forces at bay, the SP and the BSP said it should be left to the Chair in both Houses to decide under what clause the debate should be held.

"Government has instruments which it uses to change negative into positive... We want to expose such parties which have changed their stand," Hussain said. The BJP has often accused the government of using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to win the support of the SP and the BSP. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati are facing charges of graft which are being probed by the CBI.

Hussain took jibes at the government, saying it had these "instruments" all along and could have used them to manage its numbers and save four days which have gone waste in the winter session of Parliament.

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