Modi government means business in winter session

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday expressed its resolve to carry out "meaningful business" in the winter session of parliament starting on Thursday.

The NDA members met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence on Wednesday evening where the strategy to deal with any possible attack by the opposition on issues like "growing intolerance in the country", price rise of essential commodities and others was prepared.

"We met and discussed our resolve to carry out important work of the government during the winter session," a BJP official told IANS.

He said the government and its allies know that the opposition has issues and it could try to disrupt the proceedings of the house. But they have been assured by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and others that the government was ready to discuss their issues, and that they should not disrupt the parliamentary proceedings.

The NDA members also supported the BJP for "countering the intolerance agenda", another BJP leader said.

"The tone of the meeting was that the NDA is united in ensuring smooth functioning of parliament in the winter session," a senior minister told IANS.

"The members agreed to coordinate with opposition parties as well to execute maximum work during the session," the minister added.

The real action, however, would begin on Monday next as the first two days of the winter session of parliament would be devoted to "commitment to India's constitution", being held as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the chief architect of India's constitution.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7, Race Course Road residence, was also attended by party veteran L.K. Advani, BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with other leaders.

The nearly month long session starts Thursday, November 26, and will end on December 23.

Several economic reform bills are on the government's agenda, with the bill to implement Goods and Services Tax being in the priority list.