New Delhi: The crucial monsoon session of parliament began today with Pm Modi expressing hope that all political parties are in a general mood to take good decisions.
Speaking ahead of the session outside parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he “had spoken to all political parties and there was general mood among them to take good decisions” in the session.
“I have faith in all political parties. Have spoken to them and it is clear everyone is in a mood to take good decisions,” said the Prime Minister.
“This session is taking place ahead of the 70th Independence Day Celebrations. In this session we wish to take the journey of these 70 years to greater heights, a new direction, and momentum by indulging in the best of discussions and take excellent decisions for the larger interest of the nation,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the newly-inducted ministers in the Lok Sabha, which will resume on Tuesday.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned shortly due to the death of Madhya Pradesh MP Dalpat Singh Paraste, 6 former MPs who died recently.
In the Rajya Sabha, the session started with Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari administering the oath of office to the newly-elected members of the house.
During an all party meet convened by government on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the political parties to keep national interests above any other consideration. Mr Modi sought their support in the passage of the GST Bill, saying it was of national importance.
He said it is immaterial which government takes credit for rolling out the GST. He said, all political parties are representative of the people and therefore national issues should be kept above everything else.
A total of 25 bills including the crucial Goods and Services Tax Bill are expected to come up for consideration and passage during the session. The session will have 20 working days and will conclude on the 12th of next month.
The government is hopeful of passage on the key GST bill in this session amid indications that a number of regional parties have broken ranks with Congress on the issue and are willing to extend their support to the crucial economic reform measure.
With the opposition set to raise the issue of India's failure to get a berth in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the government has said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was ready for discussion on issues including Prime Minister's recent foreign tours.
Meanwhile, the Opposition, boosted by the Supreme Court verdict on Arunachal Pradesh, will try to corner the treasury benches on a host of issues, including India's failure to secure NSG membership.
Besides the political developments in Arunachal, which saw the installation of a new Congress dispensation in the state, the Modi government's decision to seek a report from the Law Commission on the proposal for introducing a Uniform Civil Code are likely to make the session a tempestuous affair.
Besides the GST, another key legislation pending passage is the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was moved in December last year but the discussion on it had remained inconclusive. In the Budget Session this year, this bill could not be taken up for debate.
In the Lok Sabha, important pending bills include the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 and the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015.
The last few sessions of Parliament have seen frequent face-offs between the ruling and the opposition benches but the second part of the Budget Session saw a relative improvement as far the completion of government business was concerned.
