Sushma Swaraj demands all-party meet over FDI

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Monday demanded that the United Progressive Alliance government convene an all-party meeting over the issue of Foreign Direct Investment in retail before making any statement on it in the Parliament.

"Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee called me on Monday morning on phone over smooth running of Lok Sabha and the stalemate due to FDI in retail issue," she told the media at the Indore airport.

"Mukherjee told me that the government is interested in making a statement on the issue in the Lok Sabha," she said, adding, "I told him to convene an all-party meeting firs where the government should make its stand clear on the FDI row."

It should not only be the Bharatiya Janata Party but all political parties should know and draw a consensus on the issue if required, Swaraj said. She said the BJP's adjournment motion over the issue be allowed for discussion in the Lok Sabha.

"Let the UPA government clarify its stand on FDI in retail only then Lok Sabha would run smoothly. There would be no compromise on it," she added.