Modi reaches out to Oppn for smooth House functioning

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached out to the Opposition for the “smooth functioning” of Parliament. The move came as the last Winter Session was washed out because of the non-NDA parties wanting a discussion on demonetisation which was not acceptable to the treasury bench. 

“For the first time the Budget has been advanced by a month,” Modi said.  He said “a new beginning is being made” as  the Railway Budget has been merged with the annual Budget, ending a nearly century-long practice. “In the last few days, we have had discussions with the Opposition parties in public interest,” Modi told reporters. However, the Trinamool Congress, which was at the forefront of paralysing both the Houses, gave enough indication of its future floor strategy by announcing it would skip the Budget presentation on Wednesday.

Even CPM MP Sitaram Yechury moved a privilege notice against the government accusing it of misleading Parliament.  Some of the Opposition parties are not happy over the nine-day long Budget Session at the time of elections to five states. The Opposition had taken a leaf from the Election Commission having reservations on the government insisting to have the session from January 31 as it felt the Budget announcements may impact voters during the Assembly elections.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu also reiterated the government’s stand that it was ready to discuss every issue. “We have nothing to hide, worry about or fear,” Naidu said. Parliament will reconvene on March 9 to conduct business till April 12.