Stepping back to break the logjam in Parliament, the government today put the controversial decision on FDI in retail on the backburner till a consensus is evolved, a proposal the entire opposition and the dissenting allies accepted without reservation.

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At an all-party meeting concened by him this morning, Leader of the House in Lok Sabha and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government would move a proposal in Parliament stating, "The decision to permit 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail will be suspended till a consensus is developed through consultations with various stakeholders".

All the parties, including UPA allies TMC and DMK, which were opposed to the FDI decision, agreed to support the resolution and allow Parliament to function.

Though this was not exactly what the BJP and the Left parties were demanding- they had insisted on a complete rollback, the government agreeing that it would try to build a "consensus" virtually means that the FDI decision has been put on the backburner.

"This is a virtual rollback of the FDI decision, so we will allow the House to function. We are more keen than the government that Parliament should function," CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta told reporters after the meeting.

He said the government had an "ego issue" in using the term rollback.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the Finance Minister apprised leaders of political parties about the government's decision and that they agreed on that.

He said the parties sought some clarifications which included the ambit of stakeholders that are the states and all political parties. "That was clarified to them after which they agreed to allow the House to function," he said.

Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay said ways to resolve the crisis in Parliament had been taken up by the Finance Minister with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The government had discussed the contents of the proposal with Banerjee to break the logjam, he said.

Lalu Prasad, leader of RJD, which is extending outside support to the government, said, "The decision to permit 51 per cent FDI in retail trade has been suspended till a consensus is developed among various stakeholders."

Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said that the FDI move has been suspended by the government and that a decision on it would be taken only after talks with various political parties, chief ministers and other stakeholders.

"There is no rollback. It has been suspended so that Parliament can function," Abdullah said.

The meeting had been convened by the government at the suggestion of opposition parties, including the BJP and the Left.

CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, "At the all-party meeting, it was decided that the government is so far taking back the decision on FDI in retail. Whatever word they may use.

"The decision will not be implemented. In future, whatever decision will be taken on the issue, it will be based on a consensus with all stakeholders," Yechury said.

He maintained that the Left had raised the issue of who would be included as stakeholders and insisted on including political parties, states and others involved.

"The issue of adjournment motion on price rise and blackmoney will now come. We have asked for an amendment in the motion on blackmoney, by asking for the inclusion of corruption along with the issue of blackmoney," Yechury said.

He said though there was no floor coordination with NDA/BJP, the Left would work together on matters of national importance.

BJP leader Kirti Azad, however, maintained that this resolution does not mean a consensus has been reached with the government on FDI.

"I don't think there is a consensus that has been reached on FDI. But we stand by.... that there is no FDI in retail.

That is a stand which is very strong, strongly taken by the BJP, the Left and the opposition and also people from within the government," Azad said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the government had not bowed down before the opposition.

"Process of consultation is important in a democracy and so the government had invited the opposition for this meeting. All parties, the TMC, the BJP and the Left, agreed to the resolution," he said.