With frequent fireworks expected in the Budget Session of Parliament beginning today, the government on Tuesday urged the opposition to discuss, debate and decide but not to disrupt the proceedings of the House.
"The Parliament Session is commencing today with an address by the honourable President of India to the joint session. It happens to be the Budget Session. Academic survey will be presented. Now, the budget is new budget because the railway budget and general budget have been combined together. The members will have an opportunity to discuss about the policies of the government during the President's address. While we'll be having thanksgiving motion," Union broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told the media.
Naidu said the government will have ample opportunity to scrutinise the budget proposal in depth because it has committee system in between.
"We can have general discussion on various issues in the coming session of the Parliament. I hope all political parties understand the importance of the Budget Session and prepare themselves to participate in a more meaningful, constructive manner in order to derive the maximum out of this Budget Session," he added.
Asserting that the government is ready to discuss each and every issue raised in the Parliament during the Budget Session, Naidu said it has nothing to hide, nothing to worry and nothing to fear.
"The government has taken many for reaching reforms in various walks of public life and governance. We are happy to discuss about the same, including the recent demonetisation. We can also discuss other related issues that are there before the country," he added.
More From This Section
Naidu expressed hope that there will be a meaningful Budget Session and members of all political parties use this occasion to have more constructive debate.
"I would only repeat what the honourable President had said - discuss, debate, decide, do not disrupt," he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government is ready to debate and discuss on any issue the opposition want, adding that it would answer every question raised in Parliament.
With the Annual Budget session of Parliament scheduled to start from today, President Pranab Mukherjee will address both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House here.
The Economic Survey will also be tabled later in the day and the Rail Budget will be presented with the General Budget this year on Wednesday.
Apart from presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force from April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.