Winter Session of Parliament: PM Modi urges parties to engage in constructive discussion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the floor leaders of all parties to ensure constructive discussions in both the Houses of Parliament during the Winter Session, beginning on Tuesday.

"The government is ready to discuss all issues of national importance on the floor of both the Houses of Parliament," Prime Minister Modi said in his address to the floor leaders of all parties in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

Addressing the floor leaders, PM Modi said, "The government is always receptive to the issues raised by all political parties." The Prime Minister also encouraged them to strive to create a constructive atmosphere during the Winter Session and collectively address the issues related to people's welfare.

"It is a prime responsibility for all of us to contribute to the service of the nation and its people by ensuring smooth functioning of the Parliament," said Prime Minister Modi. The Winter Session of Parliament will have a total of 20 sittings spread over a period of 29 days.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines, Narendra Singh Tomar said that the government has requested all parties, especially the opposition, for their co-operation in smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament.

"The Winter Session, 2018 of the Parliament is scheduled to be held from December 11 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on January 8," said Tomar.

The all-party meeting was attended by among others Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, and Arjun Ram Meghwal. All leaders also observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to former Union Minister H N Ananthkumar, who died last month in Bengaluru.