PM Modi at all-party meet: Let Parliament fulfill people’s expectations

Agencies
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 25

A day before Parliament’s winter session begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the opposition to let it function “constructively” so that it is able to fulfill “people’s expectations” from his government.
Modi was speaking at the all-party meeting called by the government as it braces to face the opposition over a series of issues, including the intolerance row triggered by actor Aamir Khan’s recent remarks.
The government, keen to pass the ambitious Goods and Services Tax Bill and other key reforms, has said that it is willing to discuss any issue in Parliament as long as it is “constructive”.
“PM Narendra Modi has said at the all-party meeting that GST legislation is in the interest of nation,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the all-party meeting.
“Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will speak to all parties to address their doubt on GST legislation,” Naidu, quoting Modi, said.In his various trips abroad, PM Modi has assured the foreign investors of making the GST a reality by 2016.
All signs so far indicate that the winter session, like the monsoon session before it, is likely to be stormy with most opposition parties supporting Khan and accusing the government of bullying dissenters.
The Congress, the Janata Dal-United and the CPM have made their intention clear by deciding to give notices for debate on intolerance and attacking the government on reform measures, including the GST Bill.
Opposition chalks out strategy
Amid indications of a tough session ahead, senior Ministers on Tuesday huddled to chalk out the strategy and work out floor coordination plans while parties like the Congress, JDU and CPI(M) made their intent clear, deciding to give notices for debate on the issue of intolerance and attacking the government on the key reform measure of GST.
NDA Ministers discussed legislative proposals to be brought before consideration of both the Houses of Parliament which include three Bills relating to replacement of Ordinances, GST Bill, Real Estate Regulation Bill etc. The Ministers also discussed recent incidents like Dadri lynching, rationalist Kalburgi’s killing and some other ones based on which a campaign alleging the rising levels of intolerance is on.