President flags off Budget Session, says inclusive growth key priority of govt

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 23, 2015:  The Budget Session of Parliament, which began on Monday, is expected to be a stormy affair as the Narendra Modi-government is seeking the support of the Opposition in getting all proposed key legislation, including bills to replace a slew of ordinances, passed smoothly

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to build consensus around six ordinances, including the controversial land acquisition and insurance bills that the government wants passed in this session.

At a meeting of leaders of all parties in both Houses of Parliament hosted by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Modi said, "Country looks at Budget session with hopes and aspirations, it is the collective responsibility of all parties to ensure it runs smoothly."

The Budget Session lasts till March 20 and the Parliament will reconvene on April 20 and the session is due to conclude on May 8.

Earlier on Sunday, Naidu met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and described the meeting as "cordial". The government would need the help of Congress, especially in the Rajya Sabha where it is short on numbers, to help push through legislation seen as crucial to PM Modi’s reform agenda.

Important among these are ordinances on raising the foreign investment limit in insurance, auctioning coal mines and changing the rules of land acquisition, the latter having generated much protests from the Opposition as well as farmers’ organisations.

"The government is willing to walk the extra mile to accommodate the Opposition. My only appeal is that House should be allowed to function smoothly," Naidu said.

But the Opposition appeared to be unimpressed and made clear its mood to take on the government, particularly on the move to amend the Land Acquisition Act.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Congress will not support those Ordinances and bills, which "do not help people". Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav said it will be a "fight to the finish" as he lashed out at the government, saying it had made the land law worse than what existed during the British time.

Naidu acknowledged that land acquisition is an "emotive issue" and needs to be addressed "sincerely without undue politicisation". The ordinances have to be ratified by Parliament within six months, or it expires.

In its seven months in office, the government has used the ordinance, or emergency executive order, 10 times due to its lack of majority in the upper house of Parliament or Rajya Sabha, where the opposition Congress has most numbers and has led other parties in holding up proceedings on a number of issues, not allowing legislation to be passed.

 

Courtesy: Zeenews