PTI, NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told an all-party meet that the government was ready to discuss all issues of national importance in the Winter session of Parliament as the Congress asserted that the opposition will press for a JPC probe into the Rafale jet deal.
NDA ally Shiv Sena also pitched for a law on construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya during the meeting, attended by floor leaders of various political parties from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and convened by the government a day ahead of the Winter session.
Asserting that government is always receptive to the issues raised by parties, the Prime Minister said the government and the opposition have to cooperate with each other so that Parliament functions smoothly which is in public interest.
Briefing reporters on the nearly two-hour long meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said all parties were in favour of a productive session and the government is always ready to discuss any issue as permitted under rules.
Shiv Sena representative in the meeting Chandrakant Khaire said his party would not allow parliament to function if the government does not bring bill for construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhaya.
The Sena has 18 members in Lok Sabha and three in Rajya Sabha.
However, when asked about Sena’s demand, Tomar did not give a specific reply and said temple issue was not on the agenda of the all-party meet.
After the meeting, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, the opposition will press for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale jet deal and raise several issues, including the misuse of probe agencies and autonomy for RBI, in the winter session.
He said, the opposition will once again press for the formation of a JPC to look into the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale jet deal in which it has alleged corruption.
Azad told reporters that the issue of alleged misuse of probe agencies by the government to settle political scores will also be raised.
Congress, TDP and TMC have alleged in the recent past that probe agencies including CBI and ED are being used by the government to settle political score.
