FDI in India: Pranab Mukherjee briefs Cong MPs, BJP steps up attack

NEW DELHI: With the FDI storm leading to a crisis withing the Congress, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has briefed party MPs on government's policy on the issue.

On Tuesday, the divide within the Congress once again came to the fore, with party MP from Uttar Pradesh Sanjay Singh openly opposing the government's decision.

Kerala PCC Chief Ramesh Chennithala had earlier written a letter to Prime Minister opposing the decision. He had also requested Kerala chief minister Oomen Chandy not to implement the decision in the state.

But with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh virtually rejecting any possibility of rollback by justifying the government decision on Tuesday, the Congress is trying to bring its house in order.

It also has to pacify its allies on whose support the UPA government survives.

Meanwhile, the BJP has stepped up its attack on the government.

Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has questioned why the government is running away from a discussion on FDI in retail.

Taking a dig at the government Sushma says in a tweet, "This means the government does not have majority support in the Parliament on this decision."

Sushma further tweeted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is isolated on this decision.

She says, "His cabinet, his party, his alliance partners, his supporting parties - nobody is with this decision. He should first convince them before commenting on the Opposition."

The BJP leaders are also meeting to decide their strategy on the issue.