Modi to meet Oppn ahead of Budget session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to opposition ahead of Budget session of Parliament, inviting leaders of major political parties to a meeting on Tuesday possibly to absorb their complaints on lack of consultation on core issues.

Though Modi has been attending all parties meet called either by Parliament minister M Venkaiah Naidu or Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan but this is for the first time he is meeting leaders of parties of both the Houses.

Modi would want to know from parties what it would take to run Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha smoothly, given the suspicion that opposition may create ruckus on issues such as “growing intolerance” in the backdrop of Hyderabad Dalit student’s suicide and  imposition of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. 

Political mileageThe Opposition is more emboldened post Bihar Assembly polls victory and the BJP fears that the Opposition would like to derive political mileage by raising controversial issues given elections are due in five states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala.

Government sources said that Modi is unlikely to have a structured discussion on legislations lined up during the meeting but may respond to any particular aspect of parliamentary business if it is raised by some leaders. 

That would be taken up during an all-party meeting slated for closer to budget session starting from February 23.