India's Congress stymied by disruptions

While the winter session of India's Parliament started off on a seasonally stormy note, the minority Congress government did avoid a no-confidence motion over its move to open up the country's retail sector to foreign stores like Walmart.

The Trinamool Congress, a former ally, fell 32 MPs short of the 50 opposition votes required to table the motion.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Left also oppose the opening up of the retail sector, they did not approve of the motion because the government has the support of regional parties.

The first day of the session saw parliamentarians repeatedly rushing into the well of both the Lower and Upper Houses, shouting slogans over issues such as a recent fuel hike and retail reforms.

An early morning appeal against such disruptions by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday fell on deaf ears.

"We all have an obligation, in opposition as well as in government, to work together to enable our parliamentary democracy," said Singh. "Our Parliament has a very heavy legislative agenda during the winter session."

The 25 Bills the government wants to pass in this session include opening up the pension sector to foreign investment and hiking the foreign investment cap in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent.

The last Parliament session in September also ended with little legislative activity because of alleged corruption in the allocation of coal blocks.

This time, the retail reforms are expected to be the focus as opposition parties are against the September decision to allow foreign supermarket chains to buy up to 51 per cent stakes in multi-brand retailers in India.

The government says the move is needed to jump-start sluggish growth and bring in facilities like cold chain storage facilities in a country where one-third of vegetables and fruits are lost in transit. Opposition parties say it will hurt the kiranas stores, or small shops, which form the backbone of the retail sector in India.

The BJP and Left parties now want a debate and vote on the retail reforms. "We should be given an opportunity to express our views... there should be a discussion in Parliament," said BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in Parliament.

Political analysts however said a divided opposition will find it tough to corner the government.

"At this stage, the government has the numbers," said Dr N. Bhaskara Rao, chairman of the Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies. "Even if it loses the vote, it has the option to go to the people and say that opposition parties were against reforms and blocked efforts to improve the economy."

The government remains determined to ensure legislative work does take place. Singh threw a dinner yesterday for leaders of the BJP to seek their support.

An all-party meeting has also been called next week to urge parties to allow Parliament to function.