This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20537330
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
India parliament to hold economic reforms vote | India parliament to hold economic reforms vote |
(about 1 hour later) | |
India's parliament will hold a vote on the government's controversial decision to open the retail sector to foreign competition. | |
The ongoing winter session of Parliament has been deadlocked over the issue since last week. | The ongoing winter session of Parliament has been deadlocked over the issue since last week. |
Opposition parties have been insisting that a debate on the decision must be put to a vote. | Opposition parties have been insisting that a debate on the decision must be put to a vote. |
Both the houses of the parliament have now resumed normal business after a week. | |
"The date and time of discussion on FDI [foreign direct investment] in multi-brand retail will be decided later," the Lok Sabha (the lower house) Speaker Meira Kumar announced on Thursday morning. | |
The discussion in the lower house will be held under Rule 184 which entails voting, she added. | |
Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj thanked the Speaker and assured "smooth functioning of the house". | |
In the Rajya Sabha (the upper house), Chairman Hamid Ansari agreed to hold a discussion on FDI in retail under Rule 168 which entails voting. | |
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and left-wing parties have been insistent that a debate on economic reforms must be held under rules that include voting. | |
The Congress-led government initially refused the demand but agreed later after its allies pledged support in the event of a parliamentary vote. | The Congress-led government initially refused the demand but agreed later after its allies pledged support in the event of a parliamentary vote. |
"We are confident of numbers," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday, indicating that the government had the backing of enough MPs to win should a parliamentary vote be held. | "We are confident of numbers," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday, indicating that the government had the backing of enough MPs to win should a parliamentary vote be held. |
Opposition parties say allowing foreign supermarket chains to set up will put small shops out of business and hurt the poor. | Opposition parties say allowing foreign supermarket chains to set up will put small shops out of business and hurt the poor. |
The government says the reforms are needed to revive the slowing economy. | The government says the reforms are needed to revive the slowing economy. |