With the end of the week-long impasse in Rajya Sabha over Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti issue, Government today sought opposition's cooperation in clearing "heavy agenda" pending in Parliament.
"Now understand that there is a heavy agenda. Lot of bills are there for discussion, debate and then decision. And then lot of other issues also opposition friends want to raise...," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said soon after the impasse over controversial remarks by Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti ended today.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari appealed to all members and political leaders to "maintain civility" at all costs in public discourse.
"Let us all work together and see to it...That we enhance the image and prestige and functioning of the parliament," Naidu said.
His statement comes in wake of government lining up a heavy legislative agenda in Parliament this week including a bill seeking to replace coal blocks allocation ordinance and another bill seeking to replace Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation) Laws (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance.
Anti-hijacking Bill and Supplementary Demands for Grants and related appropriation bills are also on priority agenda so also Payments and Settlements Systems (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill, 2014.
In the Rajya Sabha, several bills were scheduled to be taken up during the second week but could not be done so due to disruptions.
"The impasse in Rajya Sabha has ended. Of course, Lok Sabha has been functioning even before. I am happy about it. As a Parliamentary Affairs Minister, I would like to tell the countrymen and also my friends from Opposition parties that the government is willing to discuss any issue, every issue," Naidu said.
He said the government has always been proactive and without insisting on rules and regulations even during the zero hour, it was responding to the issues raised by the members in Parliament.
"So, opposition friends should keep this in mind, try to cooperate in proper functioning of the House because running the House is joint responsibility of the ruling party as well as opposition also. My operation depends on their cooperation," Naidu said.
