PM hopeful of fruitful session; Cong may corner govt on Arunachal, NSG

Talking to the media outside Parliament, Modi invited Opposition parties for a constructive debate on all issues on the floor of the both the Houses. He said talks were held with various parties in the past few days and they had expressed their willingness to participate in the discussion on important legislations and issues. 

Noting that the session was taking place just ahead of the 70th Independence Day, Modi said he was confident that discussions of the highest standard would be held.

He added based on the talks with all parties, it was a favourable time to take “very good decisions so that the country can move ahead on the path of development with greater speed”. Remembering the martyrs of the country’s freedom struggle, Modi said, “Everyone should work together, shoulder to shoulder to take the journey of the last 70 years to greater heights, to give a new pace to the country, to have discussion of the highest standard, to take important decisions and to ensure that India moves ahead with great speed.”

The government is hopeful of a breakthrough on the key GST Bill, which it wants to be passed during this session. Senior leaders of the BJP-led government had recently met top Congress leaders. The two sides are likely to meet again during the session.

However, like the other sessions, this session, too, is not going to be smooth for the Centre as the main Opposition, Congress, is likely to corner the government on a host of issues, especially the Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand crisis. 

The Congress might also target the government on its failure to secure membership for India in the  premier Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Besides the political development in Arunachal, which saw a new Congress dispensation in the state, the Modi government’s decision to seek a report from the Law panel on a proposal to introduce a Uniform Civil Code is likely make the session a tempestuous affair.

Meanwhile, PM Modi introduced all 19 newly inducted ministers to members in both the Houses of Parliament. As per custom, he introduced his new Cabinet colleagues to the Lok Sabha and later to the Rajya Sabha. These included HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, who has been elevated to the Cabinet rank.