LS Speaker says her priority is to ensure smooth Budget Session

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday said her priority is to ensure that proceedings in the house run smoothly, and added that she expects every member to co-operate during the Budget Session.

"My priority is that the budget session runs smoothly, and we solve issues like economic and other issues, and I hope that we all, including myself co-operate during the Budget Session," Mahajan said.

This morning, an all party meeting was convened by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, besides other leaders.

Prominent leaders of the Congress, AIADMK, TMC, NCP and Left Front also attended the meeting.

The 42-day-long Budget Session of Parliament will begin from today and will have 28 sittings.

During this period, Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government's first Railway and General Budgets on July 8 and July 10 respectively.

The Economic Survey will be released on July 9. The session will end on August 14.

During the session, the Congress-led Opposition is likely to put pressure on the government on issues such as inflation, the hike in rail and fuel fares, womens' safety and the communal flareup in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad District.

The Congress may also push its case for the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on grounds that it has the most seats (44) in the opposition.

The Trinamool Congress and Left parties have said they will seek a discussion on inflation, internal security and federalism after the presentation of the Rail and General Budgets.

The government is also expected to make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on the plight of Indians in strife-torn Iraq.