The Rajya Sabha has resumed discussion on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail today after suspending question hour. As soon as the House met for the day, Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari said the reply by the minister will take place at 1430 hours. Mr Ansari said 23 speakers had participated in the discussion on FDI in the House yesterday. Eleven more members wanted to take part in the discussion today. He said question hour has been dispensed with on the request of those members who could not participate in the discussion yesterday. The Chairman said he has acceded to their request as a rarest of the rare case.

Resuming the discussion, Balvinder Singh Bhunder of the Shiromani Akali Dal opposed the government's decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in retail sector saying that the foreign investors will be of no use to the Indian farming community. Shanta Kumar of the BJP said the government should allow FDI in important sectors like Railway expansion and tourism. Shivanand Tewari of the JD(U) criticizing the economic policies of the World Bank, IMF, ADB, called for a full-fledged discussion in the House on the adverse impact of the world economic policies on Indian culture and lifestyle of the people. News Content