New Delhi:
In a bid to ensure that the budget session that begins tomorrow goes smoothly, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today met leaders of all political parties.The government apprehends disruption of the house over issues like the VIP chopper deal and the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
The Prime Minister joined the meeting for lunch. Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said, "It is our sincere hope that we will have a productive, constructive debate leading to solutions to the many national problems."
The BJP raised the issue of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's remarks on 'saffron terror'. They want the comments withdrawn and the Home Minister to apologise.
"I have raised the issue of Mr Shinde saying the BJP and the RSS run terror camps. In that case, I have no right to be Leader of the Opposition and the BJP members should not be in Parliament", Mrs Swaraj said.
(Read: BJP threatens protest in Parliament)Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the government was willing to discuss the issue with the BJP over the next two days. He also reiterated that they were open to "any kind of inquiry" into the VVIP chopper scam for which there is "political mandate".
"Of course all parties have issues to raise and I have assured them that we will engage will them as much as possible so that we find convergence," he said.
A long list of legislative business lies ahead for the government in the session, with a total of 55 bills, including financial bills, listed. There are 16 new bills listed for introduction while 35 which had been introduced earlier are there for consideration and passing. Four new bills are also listed to be passed in this session.
The Rail Budget will tabled on February 26 and the Union Budget on February 28.