Lok Sabha Speaker seeks cooperation of all parties

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) On the eve of the commencement of the second half of the Budget Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today sought cooperation of all the political parties for smooth functioning of the House.

After an all party meeting convened by him, Mr Chatterjee told newspersons that he had been assured by leaders of political parties that the House would function smoothly.

The BJP, meanwhile, said it had identified 46 issues, including sealing drive in Delhi, Doda and Udhampur killings, Volcker Report, suicides by farmers, and rise in prices to raise during the session.

The party also sought extension of the session to accommodate discussion on the important issues. BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that the seven-day sitting was not sufficient to discuss the important issues.

The Speaker said that the Business Advisory Committee which is meeting tomorrow would decide the priorities of the issues to be discussed in the House. He hoped that all important issues would be considered.

Asked whether he would be presiding over the session in the wake of he being accused of holding an office of profit, Mr Chatterjee said "there are well established conventions for the presiding officers." He, however, skipped any categorical reply on the matter.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said that leaders of all political parties attended the meeting. He said the session would start tomorrow morning with obituary references for those who passed away during the intervening period. These included BJP Leader Pramod Mahajan and Congress leader Ghani Khan Chaudhary.

The Houses would subsequently be adjourned for the day, he said.

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