The Finance Minister and the Leader of the Lok Sabha, Pranab Mukherje will continue to hold discussions with various Opposition parties on the FDI in retail issue. The objective is to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament from Wednesday.

The two Houses could not transact much business last week due to the logjam over the issue.

AIR correspondent reports that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to make a statement on FDI retail on Wednesday in Parliament.

On Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee had announced that Mr. Mukherjee informed her that the FDI retail issue has been put on hold.

When asked whether the government has put on hold the cabinet decision, Mr Mukherjee on Monday said that he will make a statement on the policy issue in Parliament.

Congress has said that it will consult all the political parties to evolve a consensus to allow Foreign Direct Investment, FDI in retail.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary said that Congress will seek the opinion with an open mind. She added that opposition should give substantive reasons for its demand for withdrawal of FDI in retail.

The BJP on the other hand has urged the government to make its stand clear on the issue. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday, party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said that BJP wants immediate roll back of the decision.