Discuss all issues, work for the people: PM to Oppn ahead of Budget session
New Delhi: Ahead of the start of the Budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hoped for a comprehensive discussion in Parliament.
He noted that in the last few days, the government has held discussions with all political parties to ensure that House proceedings are not disrupted.
There should be comprehensive discussion for welfare of society, Modi told reporters outside Parliament.
The Prime Minister said he has faith that all factions will come together in Parliament for welfare of society.
He said it is the first time that the Union Budget is being presented on February 1. Modi recalled that while budgets were earlier presented at 5 in the evening, it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who advanced it to morning.
"Today, a new tradition will begin. First, the budget is being advanced by nearly a month. And second, Rail Budget in being incorporated into this. There will be discussion on this also and the benefits that it will have in the coming times," he said.
After the Winter Session was washed out due to protests over demonetisation, Modi had yesterday reached out to the opposition at an all-party meeting called here yesterday.
The meeting was attended by all major parties except Trinamool Congress, which has been unhappy over the note ban and arrest of its MPs in chit fund cases.
“The Budget today is not going to be state-specific, it will be for the whole country,” Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said reacting to media questions.
On Opposition parties threatening to disrupt the Budget session over several issues including demonetisation, Naidu said, “Government is ready to discuss every issue. We have nothing to hide, worry about or fear”.
Most Opposition parties including the Congress have expressed unhappiness about the Budget being held before the Assembly elections in 5 states, arguing that this would lead to the government doling out sops to appease the voters.
President Pranab Mukherjee addressed both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House in Delhi to start off the Budget session today.
The Economic Survey will also be tabled later in the day.
Apart from the presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force on April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
