New Delhi: On the eve of Winter Session an all-party meeting was held on Tuesday in the Parliament premises where several opposition leaders raised issues like unemployment, price rise to be taken up for discussion in the coming session. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister and deputy leader of the Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh.
Parliamentary affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, MOS Parliamentary affairs Muralidharan and Arjun Ram Meghwal along with the leader of the house Piyush Goyal also participated in the meeting.
Opposition leaders including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O'Brien (TMC), Tiruchi Shiva and TR Baalu (DMK), Pashupati Paras (Lok Jansakti Party), Vandana Chavan (NCP), Dr Farooq Abdullah (National Conference) and Binoy Viswam (CPI) were present in the meeting among others.
Congress and TMC raised the issue of unemployment and price rise. Congress further raised the issue of EWS quota and misuse of central agencies by the sitting government. Almost all Parties also asked for more time to be given to the Opposition during debate and discussion in the House.
The Biju Janata Dal asked for a discussion on the Women Reservation Bill. Hemant Patil of Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde demanded to bring in a bill to regulate population. The YSR Congress also raised the issue of price rise especially the need to regulate the prices of petrol and diesel.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal demanded that action be taken against the crime perpetrating out of Punjab and also a discussion takes place on the Supreme Court observation over the increase in the supply and consumption of drugs.
On behalf of the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "The government is ready for discussion and debate on all issues as per the rules and as per the advice of the Chair."
Many opposition leaders said that the government should to consider the festival period before announcing the session dates. Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "We must consider the sentiments of our Christian Brothers and sisters just the way we celebrate Hindu and Muslim festivals. The government should have considered the upcoming Christmas Festival dates before announcing the session dates."
In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said, "We have taken all consideration before announcing the session dates and during Christmas, it is a weekend so Parliament won't be functioning."
The Winter Session of Parliament begins on 7 December and will continue till 29 December. (with ANI inputs)
