New Delhi, Dec 6 (FN Agency) Announcing commencement of winter session of Parliament, from December 7 to December 29, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday requested all the party leaders for active cooperation and support for the smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament. “The Winter Session of Parliament will commence on Wednesday and subject to exigencies of government business, the session may conclude on Thursday,” he said addressing an all-party meeting held here. During the session as many as 23 bills are likely to be taken up, Joshi said. The session will provide a total of 17 sittings spread over a period of 23 days, he said adding that tentatively 25 legislative items have been identified for being taken up during the session.
Joshi said that the government is always ready to discuss on the floor of the House any issue as permitted under Rules of Procedure by the respective Presiding Officers. Twenty seven parties which were present in the meeting, besides the BJP, were INC, AITC, DMK, YSRCP, TMC (M), Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, JDU, BJD, TRS, LJSP, NCP, J&K NC, CPI(M), IUML, TDP, CPI, NPF, SAD, AAP, AIADMK, KC(M), NDPP, RSP, VCK, RJD, AGP and RLP. The leaders of these parties gave suggestions on the issues which can be taken up besides government legislative and other business during the forthcoming session. Raksha Mantri who also attended the meeting thanked the leaders for their active and effective participation in the meeting and also expressed his appreciation that the discussion was very healthy and that important issues had been flagged. He also stated that necessary efforts would be made by the government to discuss the matters of urgent public importance besides the usual legislative business in Parliament.