Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has convened a meeting of all party leaders on Monday to discuss the issue of Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector. The move comes in the wake of stiff opposition from BJP and Left parties, who are demanding a discussion under relevant rule that provides for voting in Parliament.

Demanding a debate on FDI in multi-brand retail BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley today said that Parliament is above the government and a voting on the issue is a must. Talking to reporters in New Delhi he alleged that the government is going back on its promise of building consensus on the issue

The BJP also demanded a voting on the FDI issue. Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said in New Delhi that there is no point in discussing the matter without voting. Briefing the media, he said the government is afraid of the voting clause because it does not have a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury said that Parliamentary Affairs Minister told the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha about the government's proposal to convene an all party meeting on FDI. Mr Yechury said that the minister will talk to all party leaders in the Lok Sabha separately. The CPIM leader made it clear that the Left parties will not budge from their stand for a discussion with voting.