FDI in retail: Veiled threats from UPA allies on Centre’s reform decisions

Key UPA alliesTrinamool Congress,Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party--today gave veiled threats of withdrawing support to the Centre while asking it to roll back the controversial decisions to hike diesel price,cap on supply of subsidised LPG and FDI in multi-brand retail.

Key UPA alliesTrinamool Congress,Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party–today gave veiled threats of withdrawing support to the Centre while asking it to roll back the controversial decisions to hike diesel price,cap on supply of subsidised LPG and FDI in multi-brand retail.

At the same time,remarks made by the leaders of the three parties,which account for 62 Lok Sabha members,appeared to be ambivalent on whether they would really bite the bullet by withdrawing support to the government.

The UPA coalition enjoys the support of over 310 MPs in the Lok Sabha where 273 constitutes a simple majority in a House of 545.

Story continues below this ad

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,whose party with 19 MPs is the second largest constituent in the UPA after the Congress,strongly opposed the Centre’s reforms decisions and warned that her party would take “hard decisions” if they are not withdrawn.

“We have called a party meeting on Tuesday to discuss these issues. If the Centre does not roll back the hike in diesel price and withdraw decisions on FDI in multi-brand retail and LPG,we will take decisions,however hard they may. I hope the people will not misunderstand,” Banerjee told a rally in Kolkata.

She said her party would not like to topple the UPA government. “We are not in favour of quitting the government. We are always in favour of not breaking the alliance. But we are committed to the people.”

us india trade talks, us india trade negotiations, us india tariffs, us india trade relations, trump modi trade talks, india us commerce ministry, us tariffs on india, india exporters relief package, us india economic relations, india us trade barriers, us india trade deal, india us trade meeting, rajesh agarwal commerce ministry, india us trade dispute, india us bilateral trade

First after Trump imposed 50% tariff, US negotiator in Delhi for trade talks

Business5 hr ago

US trade team, led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, to meet with Indian commerce ministry officials for first in-person talks after previous negotiations for trade deal failed. Talks paused due to US imposing additional 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. US team expected to discuss future of talks during one-day visit.

View all shorts

Live Blog