A decision whether or not to grant the Congress Leader of the Opposition status in the Lok Sabha will be taken at the appropriate time, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.
Conventions and laws were being examined.
Replying to a question at a press conference here, he said there was no need to take a decision in a hurry.
He made light of the talk of some parties forming a group for seeking main Opposition status. “I have not heard of coalition Opposition.” All these things would be examined, he added. Mr. Naidu, who reviewed the progress of schemes pertaining to his ministry in Andhra Pradesh, said he would convene a meeting of Urban Development Ministers after the Parliament session to identify problems faced by various States in urban planning and look into required reforms.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to take all States along with the Centre. “We don’t want to dictate anything.” At the same time, he pointed out, haphazard growth could not be allowed.
Mr. Naidu said currently about 32 per cent of the population was living in urban areas and this would increase to 50 per cent by 2050. Cities would have to formulate plans from now and new satellite towns and smart cities would have to be developed.
To meet the target of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022, his Ministry has convened a meeting of various stakeholders, including the private and public sectors, banks and bodies like ASSOCHAM, FICCI and CII for June 2. To a question, Mr. Naidu said he would review all allocations and appointments made in his Ministry by the previous government after the announcement of the model code of conduct for the general election.
