PM appeals to parties to jointly tackle problems facing nation

New Delhi, Aug 1: With the Opposition seeking to corner the government in Parliament on the issue of corruption and price rise, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Aug 1) appealed to all parties to jointly tackle problems facing the nation and promised a structured debate on matters raised by them.

"It is our sincere desire that this session should run smoothly and Parliament should discuss all issues of national importance and the government is quite prepared for any subject which the Opposition would like to be taken up," Singh told reporters outside Parliament.

The Prime Minister said the government would welcome a "structured debate" on various issues. Singh said the matters which are in the courts should be left to the courts to decide.

"The matters that are in the courts, that are best left to the courts to decide," he said.

Hoping the session will be "productive and "constructive", the Prime Minister said, "I appeal to all segments of Parliament. My appeal to the Opposition is to unite on this occasion to tackle jointly and collectively major problems that our nation is faced with."

Echoing similar sentiments, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said, "I hope the House will run smoothly. All leaders have given an assurance to me (in this regard)."

Confrontation between Government and the Opposition appears imminent with the Prime Minister yesterday telling the opposition bluntly that it has "too many skeletons in its cupboard", a remark that raised the hackles of the BJP.

PTI