Raise, discuss matters of public interest: Speaker at all-party meet

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania today sought cooperation from both the Congress and the BJP during an all-party meeting held today ahead of the Budget Session starting tomorrow. The meeting was attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania and BJP Legislative Party Chief Whip Sukh Ram Chaudhary. The BJP had skipped the all-party meeting held ahead of the two last Assembly Sessions.

Pathania said the session calendar was discussed in the meeting. He further said that both the parties would discuss whether the session will be held on Saturday, a day after Holi, and the decision will be taken on this in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

Pathania urged the members of both the parties to use the time of the House to raise and discuss the issues related to public interest. Pathania said that he would give ample time to all the members for meaningful discussion and the opposition should fulfil its responsibility and ask questions to the ruling party on issues related to public interest. “It is the responsibility of the government to give timely and factual answers to the questions and information asked by the opposition,” he said.

Jai Ram Thakur said the Opposition would raise the issues of public interest. “We will raise all important issues related to financial condition of the state, rising drug abuse, and development issue,” said Thakur. “We have also suggested that time of the session be increased so that we can have more time to discuss important issues,” he said.

Chauhan said that the session would last for 16 days in which the members would have discussion on Governor Address for four days. Budget would be presented on March 17. “Four days have been kept for discussion on Budget, while three days have been kept for cut motion. The Budget will be passed on March 26,” said Chauhan.

Chauhan further said that a suggestion had come during the meeting that Budget should be presented in the morning as usual instead of in the afternoon as has been decided for this time. Chauhan further said the government was ready to answer all the questions that the Opposition will bring up during the Session.