Opposition too held separate meeting to work out a combined strategy.
ANDALIB AKHTER / NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged all political parties to create a constructive atmosphere and collectively address issues related to the welfare of people in the winter session of parliament.
During the all-party meeting Prime Minister said that the government was always receptive to the issues raised by all political parties and was ready to discuss all the issues of national importance in both the Houses.
The government convened an all-party meeting for the smooth functioning of both the Houses during the winter session.
Forty-five bills and one Financial item will be taken up during the Winter Session of Parliament beginning from Tuesday.
Three Bills to replace Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance and Companies (Amendment) Ordinance are slated to be passed.
Some important pending legislations like Consumer Protection Bill, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill and Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill are also expected to be considered during the session.
This was disclosed by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar after an All Party Meeting in New Delhi.
The Winter Session will have 20 sittings. On the first day, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be adjourned for the day after paying tributes to its sitting and former members who passed away after the Monsoon Session.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, MPs from Bihar Bhola Singh and Maulana Asrarul Haq and M.I.Shahnavas from Kerala are some of the leaders who passed away during the intervening period.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu also held a meeting with leaders for smooth functioning of the Upper House. Thirty-one leaders including Ministers attended the meeting.
They include Deputy Chairman Harivansh, leader of the House Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. Leaders from NCP, Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, DMK, TMC, BJD, SAD, TDP, AAP and CPI were also present.
Mr Naidu said both the Government and the opposition have the right to pursue respective agendas but that should be done while ensuring the effective functioning of the House.
Mr Jaitely said, the government is willing to discuss any issue if only time is properly allocated for both the Government and the opposition. The leader of the Opposition Mr. Azad said that Congress also want the House to function and the bills to be passed.
Opposition parties also held a separate meeting to work out a combined strategy. It was attended by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, TMC Leader Mamata Banerjee, TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu, JDS leader H D Deve Gowda, NCP leader Farooq Abdullah, RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav and CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury among others.