Rama Jois criticises PM on FDI

BANGALORE: Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Justice (retd) M Rama Jois has blamed the adamant attitude of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue of clearance for FDI in retail sector for the logjam of the winter session of Parliament for the last one  week.In a press statement issued here on Sunday, Jois said the PM was very much aware of the fact that the UPA government did not have the backing of two of its allies -- DMK and the TMC -- when the Cabinet cleared FDI up to 51 per cent in retail sector and 100 per cent in multi-brand business.Stating that the prime minister should have yielded to the sentiments of the members expressed in both the Houses of Parliament on FDI issue, the BJP MP said, “Instead, the PM was obstinate on the issue, and remained adamant at the cost of one week’s Parliamentary business.”Despite strong protest lodged by the Opposition members, the government went ahead with issuing rules for FDI which ultimately ended up with the adjournment of Parliament on the guise of lacking consensus, he said.Stalling of the businesses of Parliament was bad for democracy, Justice Jois said,  “Otherwise there would have been fait accompli which would have been against the national interest and principles of democracy.”