PTI
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 26
Indicating government’s willingness to debate all issues in Parliament during the Winter session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said there cannot be a bigger platform for dialogue than the floor of the House.
The Prime Minister also expressed confidence that the session would witness best thoughts, best discussion and best innovative ideas.
“There cannot be a bigger platform for a dialogue than the House. Debates, disputes and dialogues are the soul of Parliament. For other things, the entire country is available as an arena,” he told reporters in Parliament House complex on day one of the month-long Winter session.
Referring to the all-party meeting held yesterday, Modi said he had a discussion with leaders of all political parties on the smooth running of the session.
“I am happy that all political parties presented a positive outlook for dialogue and debates. I hope all the MPs will leave no stone unturned to live up to the expectations the country has from Parliament,” Modi said.
While opposition wants a debate on the issue of tolerance, government has made it clear that it is willing to discuss every issue raised on the floor of the House.
Referring to the Constitution Day being observed today to mark the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949, he said awareness towards the Constitution should increase across the country. He suggested that Preamble of the Constitution should be studied by students and it should gradually become a part of people’s day-to-day life. “It is our endeavour.”
“It is fortunate that it is the year of B R Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary — the man who played a key role in drafting the Constitution. The coincidence is inspiring. You must have seen the Parliament House complex lit up to mark the day. And I am confident that during the session, best thoughts, best discussion and best innovative ideas will light up the House,” the PM said.
He said the Constitution is a ray of hope.
“It is a guide. It lights up our path constantly. When I say hope — it stands for Harmony, Opportunity, People’s participation and Equality,” he said. The Prime Minister then visited a two-day exhibition on the making of Indian Constitution being held at Parliament Library Building.
Modi hopes for smooth sailing in winter session
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hoped that all members will cooperate in the smooth running of parliament’s winter session through debate and discussion.
At the start of the winter session on Thursday, Modi reached out to the opposition. The session is likely to see his government fend charges of growing intolerance while pushing for the passage of key bills.
The session will end on December 23.
Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has said his party is willing to cooperate with the government, provided it gives his party the confidence that it would take everybody on board.
Kharge said: “Since beginning we have said we are ready to cooperate with government… but they must give us the confidence that they are taking everybody on board. It is their responsibility to ensure smooth functioning of the house.”
Several economic reform bills are on the government’s agenda, the bill to implement Goods and Services Tax (GST) being a priority.
Modi told reporters outside parliament: “I am hopeful that the ideas, discussions and thinking will create new innovative ideas to make the nation better.”
“Debate and discussion is the soul of parliament,” he said.
He said he was “confident that we all members of parliament will leave no stone unturned to meet the people’s expectations”.
“I spoke to all opposition party leaders yesterday (Wednesday). It was a good discussion in a good atmosphere. All were of the view that parliament should be run in the best possible way,” he said.
The prime minister said there is “no bigger stage for dialogue than parliament”.
Ahead of the two-day long special sitting of parliament to discuss commitment to the constitution as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Modi called the constitution a ray of hope.
“Our constitution is a ray of hope, a guide, that illuminates our path. When I say hope, I mean H for harmony, O for opportunity, P for people’s participation and E for equality,” he said.
