Budget Session: Sumitra Mahajan calls all-party meet on Feb. 22

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called an all-party meeting on February 22 to ensure smooth running of the Budget Session.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu had earlier this week said that the government would accommodate all suggestions put forth by the Opposition parties in the Parliament.

"With all sincerity, we should all say that the Parliament must function. The Congress has also endorsed it. Some people have raised the issue of JNU, to which the Finance Minister listed the slogans raised in JNU. Then, some people talked about how sedition charges can be made. With regard to this, the government's stand was that an inquiry is on and let the inquiry be completed. Secondly, these slogans and posters are highly objectionable that has been made clear," he said.

"As far as the issues of criticism, calling names is concerned; such things should be avoided by one and all. And I also as a Parliamentary Affairs Minister have said politely that usage of words like 'Hitler', 'fascist', 'communal' for the Prime Minister should be avoided," he added.

Naidu also said that the government was ready to accommodate the views of the opposition parties.

The Congress, however, asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to create a 'congenial atmosphere' for the upcoming Budget Session, adding that the ruling party should also restrain its leadership and spokespersons from making unwarranted remarks.

"The leadership of the Congress or any other political party should not be held responsible or dubbed as 'anti-national' as some leaders from the BJP are trying to project. They should also restrain their spokespersons and the leadership and create a congenial atmosphere so that the Parliament functions smoothly," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, told the media.

The Budget Session will begin on February 23. While the first session will continue till March 16, the second session will take place from April 25 to May 13.

President Pranab Mukherjee will address the joint session of Parliament on February 23. The Railway Budget will be presented on February 25 while the Union Budget will be presented on February 29.

The government has been critical of the Opposition for blocking the House proceedings and important legislations.