Ready for discussion on all issues, Oppn must ensure enabling environment: Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi. Pic/PTI

Ahead of the Winter session of Parliament, the government on Saturday asserted that it was ready for a discussion on all issues provided the opposition ensures an enabling environment in the House, reported news agency PTI.

As leaders of political parties in Parliament met in Delhi on Saturday to discuss the agenda for the Winter session beginning Monday, opposition leaders demanded English nomenclature for the three bills seeking to replace criminal laws while also flagging issues of price rise, "misuse" of probe agencies, and Manipur, reported PTI.

Briefing reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government assured during the meeting that it is ready for discussion on all issues, reported PTI.

He, however, said the opposition must ensure an enabling environment for discussion to take place, reported PTI.

Joshi said the government is fully ready for a structured debate and has requested the opposition to let the House function smoothly, reported PTI.

He added that the government has taken the opposition's suggestions positively, reported PTI.

Joshi said 19 bills and two financial items were under consideration, reported PTI.

Deputy leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said the opposition has flagged concerns over the issues of China "taking away" our land, Manipur, price rise and "misuse" of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, reported PTI.

Joshi had convened the meeting which was attended by senior leaders such as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Pramod Tiwari, Trinamool leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, NCP leader Fouzia Khan, and RSP leader N K Premachandran among others, reported PTI.

The Winter session of Parliament begins on December 4 and will have 15 sittings till December 22, during which it is expected to consider key draft legislations, including three bills to replace the colonial era criminal laws, reported PTI.

The report of the Lok Sabha panel recommending the expulsion of Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra from the lower house over a "cash-for-query" complaint is also listed for tabling in the House on Monday, the first day of the session, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)