The government has decided to reach out to the Opposition to end the deadlock in Parliament. The ongoing Budget session has been washed out for 14 consecutive days, and only nine days are left in the 23-day session.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel will meet Opposition leaders from the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at their respective residences, PTI reported. However, he did not confirm any date.
Protests by Opposition parties have rocked both Houses of Parliament, leading to repeated adjournments. Legislators of the Telugu Desam Party have been demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The Congress wants discussion on the killing of 39 Indians in Iraq, and AIADMK MPs have demonstrated against the delay in setting up the Cauvery Management Board.
Goel said on Thursday that he would visit the residences of Opposition leaders to ask them to call off the protests. He said the government was ready for a discussion on the no-confidence motion that the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress have moved against it.
Goel said that he had already visited Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s room in Parliament but he was not present, NDTV reported. The minister said he would visit Azad’s residence.
He also said that the Opposition leaders should debate in Parliament instead of on television channels. “Parliament is meant for debate. It is sad that Opposition leaders can debate outside and on TV channels but not in Parliament,” Goel said. “It is also strange for some of them to keep protesting in the well of the two Houses and then say that it is the government’s job to run them.”
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