Opposition parties on Sunday pressed for a discussion on the Kashmir issue and on the role of Governors against the backdrop of Arunachal Pradesh political crisis in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning on Monday, at an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Emerging from the meeting, Mahajan said leaders of various parties have assured their support in the smooth functioning of the proceedings.
"We hope that the House will function without adjournments and we will be able to transact business as the previous session," she said.
Responding to posers, she said the situation in Kashmir and the overall issue of terrorism are likely to be discussed during the session which has 20 sittings.
"Discussion is also likely on the role of Governors and the issue of price rise...how and in what form it is taken up will be decided," she told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the dinner hosted by the the Speaker after the meeting which is held ahead of Parliament sessions.
The government had also called an all-party meeting earlier on Sunday in view of the Monsoon Session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the opposition parties to ensure passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill while urging all to keep national interests above all issues.
Hoping for a meaningful Monsoon Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said the GST Bill is of national importance.
After senior ministers including Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and his deputy Anand Sharma earlier on Thursday, the government is optimistic that things would sail in smoothly in both the Houses of the Parliament, especially the upper house where the numerical strength of the Congress has so far stalled the GST Bill.
PENDING BILLS
The Indian Trust (Amendment) Bill 2015 and The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2016 are pending in the Lok Sabha.
Apart from the GST Bill, the bills pending in the Rajya Sabha are: The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill 2015, The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill 2016, The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill 2016, The Enemy Property Bill 2016, The Child Labour Amendment Bill 2012 and The Homeopathy Central Council Bill 2015.
(With ANI inputs)
