In a boost for economic reforms, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government on Wednesday sailed through a determined opposition onslaught to win the vote in the Lok Sabha on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail - with more than a helping hand from the BSP and the SP, the two sworn enemies who bailed out the UPA-II for their own political compulsions.

In a thumbs-up for the second generation of economic reforms, shepherded by the Prime Minister, the government also won another motion on amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to facilitate its initiative.