New Delhi, Nov 28: A political storm over the UPA Government’s decision to permit FDI in retail sector is gathering momentum with both the ruling coalition and the Opposition hardening their stance on the issue.
 In order to break the logjam in Parliament, Leader of the House in Lok
 Sabha Pranab Mukherjee has called a meeting of all the party leaders in the House on Tuesday morning to resolve the tangle.
 Both Houses of Parliament witnessed uproarious scenes resulting in the presiding officers ordering adjournment for the day.
 Despite fissures in the ruling UPA with two main allies Trinmool Congress and the DMK opposing the move, the Government toughened its stance and sources ruled out a rollback of the decision. On the other hand, the Opposition parties including BJP-led NDA and the Left Block closed ranks on the FDI issues and have decided to disrupt Parliament till the Government withdraws the decision.
 Members of several parties including some from the ruling allies stormed the Well of Lok Sabha along with opposition MPs.
 Outside the Parliament, the Opposition questioned the timing of the FDI in retail sector decision through an executive order of the Union Cabinet.
 Senior leaders of various opposition parities alleged that the issue was deliberately timed by the UPA to derail the Parliament proceedings and scuttle the possibility of passing the Lokpal Bill.
 Sensing the growing trouble Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh held a meeting of the core group to discuss the issue. The meeting was attended among others by Mukherjee and Commerce and Industry
 Minister Anand Sharma.
 Earlier, Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi also met Dr Singh to find a way out of the impasse.
 Given the hardened stance on both sides, it is unlikely that the Parliament will function normally.
 Given the approaching elections for the five state Assemblies, it is likely that the spectacle of competitive politics will be in full flow in the coming days.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST