Ready for 'intolerance' debate, says government

The government on Wednesday said it was ready for a debate on "intolerance" in parliament and that a positive "tone and tenor" among all political parties augured well for a "productive" winter session beginning Thursday.

"Some incidents have occurred; though law and order is a state issue, still if people want to discuss it, we are ready," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after an all-party meeting here.

The Congress has already said it would seek a debate on the issue of intolerance during the upcoming session of parliament.

Naidu said he was happy with the response of the representatives of all 42 parties who attended the meeting.

"I am happy to inform you that winter session of parliament will be productive," he said, adding that the government was still ready to accept any suggestion on any issue that the opposition parties might like to discuss.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged all parties to let the House function and the people were "looking up to the parliamentarians" to do whatever they had been assigned to do, the minister said.

The "tone and tenor" of the opposition parties was very positive, he said.

The government was ready to discuss and receive suggestions from any party on issues like GST bill, intolerance and atrocities on Dalits, Naidu said.

Indo-Asian News Service

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