PM seeks cooperation; Oppn gears up for no-confidence motion

New Delhi: The Opposition parties on Tuesday said that they would bring the no-confidence motion against the Modi government during the Monsoon session of Parliament which begins on Wednesday.

The Monsoon session of Parliament which begins from Wednesday will end on August 10 and will have a total of 18 sittings spread over a period of 24 days. 46 bills will be taken up during the session.

While the government has claimed that the opposition has assured them of their cooperation to ensure smooth functioning of both Houses of Parliament, opposition parties have voiced their concerns during the interaction with the government.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that Opposition parties would bring in the no-confidence motion against the government.

"On Monday, a 12 party meeting was held, and we agreed upon bringing a vote of no confidence. We will also demand the special status for Andhra Pradesh," said Kharge.

TDP has also filed a no-confidence notice against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha. "The notice has been given by Member Srinivas Kesineni under rule 198 (1) of rules of procedure and conduct of business in Lok Sabha."

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has written to various parties and sought their support for the no-confidence motion his party seeks to move in Parliament against the government over the "injustice" meted out to Andhra Pradesh due to non-fulfilment of the promise of granting special status to the state.

Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar said that the prime minister on Tuesday sought the cooperation of all political parties for the smooth functioning of Parliament and a productive session. "People of India want Parliament to function...The entire country expects and hopes the Parliament will function and debate over issues of national interest," he said.

Seeking to the corner Congress on the issue of women empowerment, the government on Tuesday urged the main opposition party to provide women with a "new deal" by joining hands to pass the bills on women's reservation, instant triple talaq and nikah halala in Parliament.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday wrote to Congress president Rahul Gandhi suggesting that the party and the BJP join hands to get the three bills, as well as the measure on providing constitutional status to the National Commission on Backward classes, passed in Parliament. He was responding to a letter by Gandhi to the Prime Minister to bring the bill on granting 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.