New Delhi, 23 November 2014

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today expressed confidence that the Winter Session of Parliament beginning tomorrow will be as productive as the last Budget session. Addressing the all Party meeting convened by the Parliamentary Affairs Minster Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister referred to the special mention he made about the productive Budget session during his Independence Day speech from the Ramparts of the Red Fort. Noting that the Government would continue to talk to opposition and other parties during the session, Prime Minister asserted that ‘unitedly, all important issues can be taken forward.’

In his opening remarks at the meet attended by about 40 leaders from 26 Parties, Shri Venkaiah Naidu said ‘the Government will walk the extra-mile to accommodate the concerns and suggestions of all parties to enable smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament.’ He gave details of the 37 Bills that the Government likes to move for introduction and taking up pending Bills for consideration and passing. Shri Naidu noted that these Bills relate to promotion of investments, improving ease of doing business, cooperatives, strengthening of Regional Rural Banks, higher education, imposing stiffer penalties on hijackers, replacing coal ordinance, promoting ethical practices in bio-medical and health research on humans, SCs and STS, repealing of old and outdated laws etc.

Shri Venkaiah Naidu asserted that in the context of enhanced global interest in economic planning and development of the country, Parliament needs to send out a right message through appropriate legislations. He made a specific reference to the need for early passing of Insurance Laws Amendment Bill that seeks to enhance FDI limit in capital starved insurance sector by the Rajya Sabha. He also said that introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) is being discussed over a long time and the Government would like to introduce a Bill in this regard during Winter Session of Parliament.

Seeking the cooperation of all Parties in Parliament, Shri Naidu said that Prime Minister always desired the Parliament to function in a bi-partisan spirit to enhance the public perception about parliamentary institutions.

Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Rambilas Paswan, Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs-Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy and about 40 leaders from 26 political parties attended the meeting. These include-Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge(Congress), Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab(BJD), Shri S. C. Mishra(BSP), Shri K.C.Tyagi (JDU), Shri Tariq Anwar(NCP), Ms. Kanimozhi (DMK), Shri P.Rajeev (CPM), Shri Raja(CPI), Shri E.Ahmed (IUML), Shri Dharam Vira Ganhdi(AAP), Shri M.Rajamohan Reddy (YSRCP), Dr.P.Venugopal(AIADMK), Shri Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Shri T.Narasimham(TDP), Shri Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD) , Shri P.A.Sangma etc.

Various issues suggested by different parties to be taken up during the Winter session include: Reservation for SCs and STs in promotions, Women’s Reservation Bill, Floods and drought in different parts of the country, Implementation of Dr.Swaminathan Commission Report on Minimum Support Prices, attacks on persons from North-East in some cities, introduction of Sanskrit as link language, foreign policy issues, farmers’ issues, attacks on weaker sections etc.

While complimenting the Government for making the legislative proposals clear, some leaders said though the agenda looked heavy, the same could be handled by taking up some related Bills in a clubbed manner.

Several partied assured that they will extend cooperate in enabling smooth functioning of the Parliament during the winter session beginning tomorrow.

Later talking to the media, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu described the all party meeting as ‘very positive and meaningful’ and hoped that it will be reflected in both the Houses of Parliament.