New Delhi: Government is set to face tough times during the Budget session of Parliament starting on Sunday even as it promised to walk the "extra mile" to accommodate opposition's concerns and Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for cooperation for the benefit of common man.
Modi underlined at a meeting of all parties here that smooth functioning of Parliament should be ensured as the Budget session is very crucial and people look at it with lots of hopes and aspirations.
The leaders of all political parties should collectively ensure proper utilisation of time in both Houses of Parliament "so that we can work towards meeting the hopes and aspirations of people", he said about the session during which his government will present its first full-fledged Budget.
"It is the collective responsibility of leaders of all parties to ensure that this session runs smoothly so that the House can fulfill aspiratations of people...Hope we can collectively work for the benefit of common man," Modi said.
Referring to the various issues that opposition is waiting to raise, he told the leaders attending the meeting, "I can assure you that all the issues you have referred to will be discussed adequately and appropriately in order of their priority and importance."
Earlier, the tone for the concilliatory approach was set when Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, in an unusual gesture, drove to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's residence to meet her to seek cooperation of the largest opposition party in carrying out the legislative business.
However, the opposition parties appeared to be unimpressed and made clear their mood of taking on the government, particularly on the move to amend the Land Acquisition Act.
Naidu admitted that some opposition parties expressed reservations against the land ordinance move even as there was "broad consensus" on five other Ordinances to be converted into Acts.
While describing his meeting Gandhi as a "cordial" one, Naidu said she expressed concerns over land Ordinance.
