In an unusual gesture aimed at striking a chord with the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday walked up to the media corner in Parliament House to make an appeal for smooth functioning of the budget session.
Mr. Modi’s appeal, coming just before the commencement of the session, is seen as another attempt to ensure that the budget session runs smoothly unlike the winter session which saw disruptions and frequent adjournments especially in the Rajya Sabha.
As several farmers’ organisations and other groups began gathering at Jantar Mantar here to protest the government’s Ordinance on land acquisition, the Prime Minister said the budget session affords the government and the nation an opportunity to hold comprehensive discussions on issues that help the “poorest of the poor”.
“Yesterday, I had a long meeting with colleagues from Opposition parties. I heard their views and our effort is to have comprehensive discussions in the temple of democracy. This session is an important occasion for the government and the country as the expectations and aspirations of the common man are reflected in the budget. I am sure the session will be held in a spirit of cooperation and cordiality,’’ he said.
The Prime Minister did not take any questions.
The government has reached out to Opposition parties on Sunday to seek their support on replacing six Bills with Ordinances including the ones on FDI in insurance and land acquisition.
However, the Opposition is adamant on opposing the Ordinance on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013. Congress, the principle Opposition party which had carved out the Bill, says it will only back the legislation passed during the UPA tenure, not the amended one brought by the NDA.
Published - February 23, 2015 12:05 pm IST
