Discuss, debate but do not disrupt: Govt. to opposition on Budget Session

With verbal battle lines drawn ahead of the budget session of parliament that began from today, the government on Tuesday urged the opposition to discuss, debate and decide but not to disrupt proceedings in both houses.

"The parliament session is commencing today with an address by the honourable President of India to the joint session. It happens to be the budget session. The academic survey will be presented. Now, the budget is new budget because the railway budget and general budget have been combined together. The members will have an opportunity to discuss about the policies of the government during the President's address. While we'll be having thanksgiving motion," Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told media here.

Naidu said the government will have an ample opportunity to scrutinise the budget proposal in depth because it has a committee system in between.

"We can have general discussion on various issues in the coming session of parliament. I hope all political parties understand the importance of the budget session and prepare themselves to participate in a more meaningful and constructive manner in order to derive the maximum out of this budget session," he added.

Asserting that the government is ready to discuss each and every issue raised in parliament during the budget session, Naidu said it has nothing to hide, to worry about or fear.

"The government has taken many far reaching reforms in various walks of public life and governance. We are happy to discuss about the same, including the recent demonetisation. We can also discuss other related issues that are there before the country," he added.

Naidu expressed hope that there will be a meaningful budget session and members of all political parties will use this occasion to have a more constructive debate.

"I would only repeat what the honourable president had said - discuss, debate, decide, do not disrupt," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government is ready to debate and discuss on any issue the opposition wants, adding that it would answer every question raised in parliament.

With the annual budget session of parliament scheduled to start from today, President Pranab Mukherjee addressed both houses of parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House here.

The Economic Survey will also be tabled later in the day and the Rail Budget will be presented with the General Budget this year on Wednesday.

Apart from 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 from April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.