Rahul Gandhi likely to skip first week of Budget Session

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will not be present in the first week of the Budget Session of Parliament.

According to reports, he has asked for a short leave from his party to reflect upon the 'recent events' and the future course of the grand old party.

Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that he has sought the Congress' cooperation for smooth functioning of the Parliament ahead of the Budget Session.

"I apprised the Congress president of the need to allow the Parliament to function and sought the cooperation of Congress. The Congress president told me that they are also interested in allowing the Parliament to function but they have some issues they would want to raise," he said.

Naidu further said that the government is willing to discuss any issue raised by the opposition.

The Budget Session contains 44 items of financial, legislative and non-legislative business.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and protection of Children) Bill, The Labour Code on Wages Bill, The small factories (regulation of employment and condition of services) Bill, and The Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill will also come up during the Budget Session.

The government has sought cooperation from party leaders in both the Houses of Parliament for smooth functioning of the Budget Session.