PM asks MPs to come together and address challenges

, Nov 22: As the Winter Session of

gets underway, Prime Minister

on Thursday sought cooperation of all his colleagues in both the Houses to come together and address issues and challenges facing the nation.

Against the backdrop of vociferous opposition to FDI in retail and a threat of a no-confidence motion, Singh also reminded the Opposition of the obligation to work together to enable parliamentary democracy to grapple with the formidable challenges before the country. Noting that Parliament had a very heavy legislative agenda during the winter session, Singh said: "I seek cooperation from my colleagues in the House to come together and address the issues and challenges that we face as a nation".

The Prime Minister said the government was ready to discuss all the issues on the floor of both the Houses. "We all have an obligation, in Opposition as well as in government, to work together to enable our parliamentary democracy, of which we are genuinely proud of, to grapple with the formidable challenges facing our country," Singh told reporters outside the Parliament. He said the country was faced with many problems on the economic front arising out of the consequences of global economic slowdown.

"We need to create new jobs on a large-enough scale to provide gainful employment to our youth. We need to increase investments in infrastructure sectors and social services like health and education to accelerate the tempo of economic growth," he said. The Prime Minister said the government was committed to these tasks but its success required cohesive collective action on the part of all segments of polity. "I invite all political parties to join hands in this vital national endeavour," Singh said.

PTI