'Mission' Budget Session: PM Narendra Modi calls meet with Opposition leaders

New Delhi: In a bid to reach out to the Opposition ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament which starts on February 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with leaders of major political parties on Tuesday.

The meeting comes amid raging issues like JNU row, President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and Pathankot terror attack. All these issues are expected to generate heat in Parliament.

By holding a meeting with Opposition leaders, PM Modi is aiming to seek a smooth functioning of the Budget Session – the last two sessions of Parliamant were virtual washouts due to several issues.

Ity will be the first such meeting between PM Modi and Opposition leaders since the BJP-led NDA stormed to power in May 2014 General Elections.

Modi has on a number of occasions been accused of not taking the Opposition into confidence.

As per PTI, government sources said it is not an all-party meeting and the bills the government seeks to introduce or pass in the upcoming session will not be discussed.

"He will seek their cooperation to run the Houses smoothly," a government functionary said.

Sources said the the government is aiming to push key reform bills like GST and labour laws in the upcoming session.