From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The opposition parties sought discussion on unemployment and price rise in the winter session of Parliament beginning on Wednesday in an all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is also deputy leader of the Lok Sabha. The government assured debate on all matters.
Parliamentary affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, MOS Parliamentary affairs Muralidharan and Arjun Ram Meghwal along with the leader of the Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal attended the meeting on behalf of the government.
Top opposition leaders including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from the Congress, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien from TMC, Tiruchi Shiva and TR Baalu From DMK, Pashupati Paras from the Lok Jansakti Party, Vandana Chavan from NCP, Dr Farooq Abdullah from National Conference and Binoy Viswam from CPI were some of the leaders present in today’s meeting
While both Congress, as well as TMC, raised the issue of rampant unemployment, Congress further raised the issue of the hurried-up appointment of the ECI and EWS quota.
Congress raised the issue of price rise and misuse of central agencies by the sitting government. Parties also asked for more time to be given to the Opposition and that their voices should not be muzzled.
Hemant Patil who represented the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde has also demanded that the government consider and bring in a bill to regulate population which is a huge challenge for a country like India.
The Biju Janata Dal raised the need to have a discussion on the Women Reservation Bill. A number of other parties supported this. There shouldn’t be any politics on issues like the collegium system- there shouldn’t be a difference between the judiciary and executive, asking for a wider discussion on the issue, was another demand of BJD.