Speaker holds all-party meet

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Saturday held an all-party meeting to ensure smooth functioning of parliament during the winter session beginning Monday.

The meeting was followed by dinner which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Mahajan said 18 parties attended the meeting barring the Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena and the Samajwadi Party.

"All the parties who could not attend the meeting had informed in advance," she said.

Mahajan said the parties demanded discussions on major issues, including black money, in the coming session.

"I am confident that the session will run smoothly with the help of all parties," the speaker said.

She said the parties did not favour a proposal to shift the question hour in the Lok Sabha as has been done in the Rajya Sabha.

"Question hour is as important as zero hour, has to be decided unanimously. For the time being, same procedure would be followed," she said.

The winter session will begin Nov 24 and end Dec 23. It will have 22 sittings.