Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed hope that the Budget session would be “fruitful” and utilised for “constructive debates”.
In his customary brief remarks to media at Parliament House on the first day of the Budget session, Modi also described Opposition parties as “friends” and noted that they had shown “positive” attitude during various interactions in the run-up to the session.
“There has been discussion with parties for the last many days. Talks have been held by rising above formalities. One-on-one talks have also taken place. In our meetings, friends from Opposition have shown positive attitude. In the session beginning today and in the coming days, people will feel it,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said that the eyes of all the country’s people are focused on Parliament, the rail budget and the general budget.
“The world is also paying attention to the Budget session due to India’s position in the global economy today,” he said.
However, Opposition parties seem to be in no mood to relent with the Congress already putting the onus on Prime Minister to run Parliament. The Opposition also made it clear that it will not allow passage of any key Bills in the first half of the session.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition will “on merit” allow the passage of only those Bills on which there is general consensus.
‘No contentious Bills’ “Contentious Bills should not be brought. Bring only those Bills on which there is a general agreement. Bills like GST will not come in the first half of the session,” Kharge had said.
Meanwhile, indications are that government would agree for discussions on the JNU incidents on February 25 — the day the Railway Budget will be presented. The Economic Survey will be tabled on February 28 and the general Budget on February 29. The first part of the Budget session will end on March 16, and after a month-long recess between March 17 and April 24, Parliament will be reconvened from April 25 and run up to May 13.