Running parliament smoothly a collective responsibility: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said it was the collective responsibility of all parties to run parliament smoothly to help the common man meet his aspiration.

Modi, who addressed an all-party meeting ahead of the budget session, assured opposition parties that the issues raised by them will be given due importance. He stressed the importance of the session saying that the people look at it with a lot of hope and expectations.

"It is the collective responsibility of all parties and leaders to enable the people fulfil their hopes and aspirations through proper functioning of both the houses of parliament," a parliamentary affairs ministry release quoted Modi as saying.

The prime minister also assured the leaders of all political parties that the issues and concerns raised by them will be discussed in an appropriate manner keeping in view their importance and priority.

During the all-party meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu gave details of the 44-item agenda of the government for the budget session including financial, legislative and non-legislative business.

He said that out of the six ordinances to be converted into Acts of Parliament by April 5, 2015, there was a broad consensus on five of them relating to citizenship for overseas Indians, introduction of e-rickshaws, allocation of coal blocks and non-coal mines through open bidding, among others.

On the Insurance ordinance, he said further to the suggestion of opposition parties, a Select Committee of Rajya Sabha has been set up and the same had submitted its report which amounts to a broad view of the house and there is no reason for two views in the matter.

"The government is willing to address concerns, if any," he said. "Several state governments cutting across party lines have expressed difficulties in land acquisition for development projects under the Act of 2013 and sought modifications.

"Subsequently, the central government sought to facilitate land acquisition for notified purposes like infrastructure and affordable housing projects and so on in an easy manner without compromising on the remuneration to be paid to farmers and rehabilitation measures to be taken up for displaced persons. "The government is ready to address apprehensions, if any in this regard," the statement quoted Naidu as saying.

"I would like to assure you all that the government is always willing to sit with opposition to resolve any differences on any issue. I don't think there is any issue that can't be resolved if approached with open mind. What is required is the spirit of mutual cooperation in the true spirit of parliamentary democracy. let us collectively strive to build a conducive environment for effective functioning of parliament during the budget session," the minister added.