The Government on Monday appealed to political parties, who want discussion on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with a vote to reconsider their stand and hoped that a solution will be found.

Emerging from the two-hour-long all party meeting in Parliament House, Parliamentary Minister Mr. Kamal Nath said the Government was open to discussion in Parliament on the issue. He said it should be left to the Presiding Officers of the respective Houses to decide whether the discussion should be allowed under the provisions of a vote. He said that all parties wanted Parliament to function smoothly. Mr. Nath reiterated the Government was not shying away from a vote on the issue, but the feelings of other political parties should also be respected.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shushma Swaraj said the BJP will not go back on its stance. She said her party will insist on a discussion with a provision for voting in both Houses of Parliament.

Mr. Sudip Bandopadhyaya of Trinamool Congress said his party wants discussion on the issue irrespective of the rules of procedure. BSP chief Mayawati also voiced concern over the disruption in Parliament and said this was obstructing the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill for Reservation in Promotion to SCs & STs. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Revati Raman Singh of Samajwadi Party also favoured discussion on the issue to break the impasse.