The Hindu : Speaker calls party leaders' meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 17, 2002

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National

Speaker calls party leaders' meet

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV 16 . The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Manohar Joshi, has called a meeting of party leaders here tomorrow over dinner, before the start of the winter session of Parliament on November 18 which is being held against the backdrop of an electoral battle in Gujarat.

The monsoon session was virtually derailed by the petrol pump scandal and was adjourned sine die a few days before schedule. Mr. Joshi is expected to tell party leaders that while they are entitled to focus Parliament's attention on issues considered important by them, this should be done strictly in accordance with the prescribed rules and procedures and without disrupting the House.

Over the next two days, parties will be holding their own meetings to identify issues to be raised and to work out their parliamentary strategies. Gujarat and issues related to the State could certainly figure prominently.

At a two-day meeting today of the chairmen of committees on petitions in Parliament and the State legislatures, Mr. Joshi said that the system for redressal of grievances must be strengthened. In a parliamentary democracy, every citizen had the right to petition Parliament and the Committee on Petitions was the vital link between the people and the legislature. A patient hearing and a quick redressal mechanism would go a long way in creating a sense of confidence among the people and a positive image of Parliament.

Ahead of the winter session, the Speaker has recognised Prassana Acharya as the Biju Janata Dal parliamentary party leader. He replaced the Union Minister, Arjun Charan Sethi. Mr. Sethi was voted out by the rebels in the parliamentary party of the BJD who outnumbered those loyal to the party president and Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik. This may create a piquant situation in the BJD, a coalition partner in the National Democratic Alliance Government.

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