FDI: UPA's victory a moral loss, shame for Manmohan Singh?

New Delhi, Dec 6: Hours after UPA's FDI win in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh faced criticism. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, claimed that the central government's political victory over FDI was a "moral loss".

Attacking the Prime Minister and his government, Mrs Swaraj said, "...The people of this country will now give them a fitting reply during the elections. Those who did not vote with us today and abstained, in a covert way, have extended their support to the government's policy of FDI."

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister used social network site Facebook to slam the Congress-led government. Expressing her rage, Ms Banerjee said, "It is a shame. This Government has lost its credibility. They must take fresh verdict from the people."

Mrs Swaraj and Ms Banerjee were not alone in cornering the UPA government. BJP leader Prakash Javadekar also said, "The Congress has not won, it is the Congress Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that has won."

However, dismissing all criticism, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari said, "This is a victory of reforms and a defeat of those who look at India's economy through ideologically coloured lenses."

"We hope the Opposition will reconsider their position and join the government in this constructive endeavour," added Mr Tewari hurling counter-attack on BJP-led opposition parties who voted against FDI in retail.

Manmohan Singh-led UPA government on Wednesday, Dec 5 won the vote in the Lok Sabha on foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail. While 253 out of 471 members voted in favour of the government, 218 members voted against it.

OneIndia News