Winter session of parliament: PM Narendra Modi asked parties to work for the betterment of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking before the start of the winter session of parliament today, called for all parties to come together and work constructively for the benefit of the nation.
"I am hopeful and urge all parties to come together, discuss, debate and work for the betterment of the nation," he told reporters outside parliament.
"Generally Diwali marks the onset of the winter... but due to climate change and global warming, this winter has not been as cold as one would expect for this time of year," he commented.
He called the winter session, which will spill over to the next year, a significant one in which "important bills would be discussed".
The session starts a day after
exit polls predicted victory for the BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the results for which will be declared on Monday.
On Thursday, PM Modi said he welcomed discussion on "all issues" that the opposition wanted to raise in the session and called for constructive discussion on government business.
"The government has requested all parties, especially the opposition, for their co-operation for the smooth functioning of the House," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar announced on Thursday after a meeting of all parties ahead of the truncated session.
Parliament will hold 14 sittings in this session, compared to 21 last year.
The Congress does not intend to let the allegation levelled by PM Modi against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pass. Leading his party's campaign in Gujarat, PM Modi had alleged that senior Congress leaders including Dr Singh
colluded with Pakistani officials at a dinner event in Delhi in an attempt to influence the Gujarat result.