The Government today sought cooperation from about thirty political parties represented in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in effective functioning of the Parliament. At a meeting with the Leaders of these parties here today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that “the government is ready and willing for discussion on any issue in the larger public interest within the functional norms of both the Houses of Parliament.” He said issues concerning the common man need to be adequately discussed in both the Houses.
Emphasizing the need “for presenting a proper account of Parliament to the people” Shri Naidu assured the leaders that the government would do the needful in this regard and is willing to consider any suggestion from the leaders. He appealed to leaders of all parties for cooperation.
Convened ahead of the commencement of the Budget Session of Parliament by Shri Naidu today, the meeting was also attended by Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely and Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Shri Prakash Javadekar. Earlier, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi joined the leaders of various parties over breakfast. Leaders who attended the all Party meeting included former Prime Minister Shri Deve Gowda of JD(S), Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge of the Congress, Shri Tambi Durai of AIADMK, Dr Rantna De and Derek O’Brien of TMC, Shri Bhartruhari Mahtabof BJD, Shri Sharad Pawar and Shri Tariq Anwar of NCP, Shri Anant Geete and Shri Sanjay Rout of Shiv Sena, Shri Ramgopal Yadav(SP), Shri Sharad Yadav of JD(U), Shri Satish Chandra Mishra of BSP, Shri Sitaram Yechury of CPM, Shri T Devender Goud and Shri T. Narasimham of TDP, Shri K. Keshava Rao and Shri A.P. Jitender Reddy of TRS, Shri M. Rajamohan Reddy (YSRCP), Shri S.S. Dhindsa (SAD), Shri Dharamvir Gandhi (AAP), Ms. Kanimozhi (DMK), Shri P.A. Sangma (NPP), Shri Nephieu Rio(NPF), Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss (PMK), Shri Hishley Lachungpa (SDF), Shri Sirajuddin Ajmal (AIUDF) etc.
Several leaders complemented Shri Naidu for convening such a meeting of leaders of both big and small parties represented in the Parliament and suggested regular such meeting. Leaders from Kerala complemented the government for taking prompt and effective action in bringing back the nurses from Iraq. Leaders from over ten parties referred to the issues that needed to be discussed. These included- problems of fishermen of Tamil Nadu, interlinking of rivers, Women’s Reservation Bill, reservation for SCs/STS in promotion, rail fair hike, price rise, atrocities against women, issues relating to pision of erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh, regional situation further to visits of Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister to neighboring countries, revision of power tariff in Delhi, adequate representation of small parties on important Committees of Parliament etc.