PM Modi urges political parties to keep national interests above everything else

Speaking today at a meeting of Leaders of various parties convened by the Government ahead of the Monsoon session, he said that ‘‘we represent both the people and parties and there is a need to keep national interests above anything else”.

Prime Minister thanked all the political parties saying ‘’various parties have given statements on Kashmir events which benefitted the country. This has sent a right message and I thank all the parties for the same”.

Modi said that important Bills including the GST Bill are to be taken up during the Monsoon session beginning tomorrow and expressed the hope that there would be meaningful discussions and outcomes during the session.

Referring to introduction of GST, the Prime Minister noted that the issue was not about which government would get the credit for introduction of GST but what was important is the passage of the Bill.

Responding to suggestions from some leaders for increasing the sittings of Parliament, Prime Minister said he welcomed the suggestion and urged the leaders to ensure proper utilization of the available time.

Briefing media persons after the two hour long meeting of leaders of parties in both the Houses of Parliament, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said that the meeting was very fruitful and all the parties desired smooth functioning of Parliament while assuring their cooperation in this regard.

He said the Congress Party assured support to legislative proposals based on merits.

The Minister said that the Government assured the leaders of an open minded approach and would facilitate discussion on issues raised by various parties during today’s meeting and further said that the Government was hopeful of a productive session.

Informing that the Government sought the cooperation of all parties for the passage of GST Bill,Ananth Kumar made it clear that all parties would be consulted in this regard. He said that the Government’s legislative agenda includes 16 Bills to be taken up during the session beginning tomorrow including three Bills to replace Ordinances.

45 leaders from 30 parties attended today’s meeting including Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely, Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shri S.S.Ahluwalia.

Legislative agenda proposed by the Government for the Monsoon session include:

I. Bills for introduction, consideration and passing

1. The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016 (To replace an ordinance)

2. The Dentists (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016 (To replace an ordinance)

II. Bills for consideration and Passing

(A) Bills pending in the Lok Sabha

(i) The Indian Trust (Amendment) Bill, 205 (agreeing to amendments made by the Rajya Sabha)

(ii) The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous

Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016 ( after report is presented by the joint committee)

(B) Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha

(i) The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015

(ii) The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016

(iii) The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016

(iv) The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty second Amendment) Bill, 2014

(v) The Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation) Bill, 2016
(all the above Bills already passed by Lok Sabha)

(vi) The Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012

(vii) The Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2015

III. Bills for Introduction

(i) The High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016

(ii) The Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016

(iii) The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016; and

(iv) The Use and regulation of DNA based technology in Civil and Criminal Proceedings, Identification of Missing Persons and Human Remains Bill, 2016

IV. Financial Business

1. Discussion and Voting on Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2015-16