Shinde hopes Winter Session of Parliament will function

Leader of the Lok Sabha Sushilkumar Shinde today hoped the Winter Session of Parliament will function smoothly without disruptions by the Opposition.

"In the last session, we had experienced a critical time. All of us, including Leaders of Opposition, understand that this country needs discussion on a number of serious issues and guidance. We hope the House will function," Shinde, who is also the Home Minister, told reporters on the sidelines of an international seminar here.

The Winter Session of Parliament is starting on November 22.

Most of the sittings of Monsoon Session of Parliament were washed out over the controversial coal block allocation issue with BJP remaining unrelenting on its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The session functioned for only six out of 19 days and was paralysed for the remaining period due to the stand-off between the government and BJP.