NEW DELHI: With the Opposition set to go all out for cornering the NDA government on several matters, including land acquisition, during the Budget Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said all the issues that were raised would be discussed.
Hours before the all party meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sought cooperation in passing the Bills in Parliament.
Venkaiah said Sonia had expressed concern regarding the issue of land acquisition. “I said we will discuss these concerns while debating it in the House,” Naidu said.
Opposition parties led by the Congress raised a number of issues at an all-party meeting convened by Venkaiah, a day ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament.
Emphasising the importance of the Budget Session, Modi said it was the “collective responsibility of all parties and leaders” to enable people to fulfil their hopes and aspirations through proper functioning of both the Houses of Parliament.
Venkaiah gave a detailed account of the Centre’s 44-point agenda for the Session including financial, legislative and non-legislative business.
He said of the six Ordinances to be converted into Acts of Parliament by April 5, there was a broad consensus on five relating to Citizenship for Overseas Indians, Introduction of e-rikshaws, allocation of coal blocks and non-coal mines through open bidding.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Congress would not support the Ordinances and Bills that do not help people.
Congress party leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge said, “Parliamentary democracy is all about deciding on issues through discussion. Different parties will convey their views on Ordinances and other issues whenever taken up.”
BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab said, “There has been undue focus on the Ordinaces in the media in general while it should have been on the Budget and economic issues. We need to focus on budget issues. We want both the Houses to function smoothly and decide on major issues. Efforts shall be made to move forward on important issues through rapprochement.”
Leaders of different parties from Tamil Nadu suggested that during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister to Sri Lanka, a conducive atmosphere should be created for protecting the rights of Tamil fishermen and Tamils in Sri Lanka.