Will all-party meet on FDI end Parliament stalemate?

Government expressed hope that Parliament would function normally from today, when it meets for an all-party meet on FDI in retail, after a four-day break. But, opposition parties demanded the government clarify on its decision to suspend it.A guide to FDI in retail

Government expressed hope that Parliament would function normally from Wednesday, when it meets for an all-party meet on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail, after a four-day break. But, opposition parties demanded the government rollback, and not holdback, FDI in retail.

The winter session of Parliament has seen repeated adjourments mainly on the issues of government's decision to allow FDI in retail and rising prices.

"We hope that Parliament will run smoothly from tomorrow after the all-party meeting", parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.

Meanwhile, opposition parties BJP and CPI(M) gave no indication of relenting on their demand for complete roll back of the decision to allow FDI in retail, the issue which has caused the logjam.

JP and CPI(M) stuck to their positions even after the government told them that the controversial cabinet decision of allowing 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and 100% FDI in single brand retail was put on hold.

Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday quoted union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as saying the government had decided to suspend the decision but there has been no official announcement.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Tarun Vijay on Sunday said that government should spell out its stand officially.