Ready for debate on government decisions: Anand Sharma

NEW DELHI: Decrying "partisan" politics in policy decisions like FDI in multi-brand retail, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said he is ready for a debate on the recent government decisions, as sought by a senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.

Addressing the Ficci annual general meeting here, Sharma said the opposition parties should stop "daily discourse", questioning government decisions and smelling a rat in every move.

He said it was in the domain of an elected government to take executive decisions which should not be dragged to Parliament and voted upon.

"...do I have to go on a daily basis to seek a certificate or endorsement of my thinking or approach or policy initiative or my decision as a minister of the Republic of India that I should be perpetually on a regular call at the doorstep of Nitin Gadkari or Prakash Karat. I can't do that and why should I?," he said.

Sharma's criticism of the opposition parties, mainly the BJP, comes in the wake of a full-fledged discussion in Parliament on the government allowing 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, under a rule which required voting in both the Houses. The opposition motions against the decision were negatived with the support of BSP and Samajwadi Party.

Earlier, addressing the same meeting, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj asked the industry bodies to hold a roundtable dialogue where government, opposition, industrialists, as well as CAG, CVC and CBI director are invited to discuss the national issues.

"A national dialogue will end this cynicism in the country," Swaraj said.

Reacting to her suggestion, Sharma said, "I am willing to debate (with) the critics and the opponents any day without notice. Decide the place, decide the forum and I will come".