Opposition all set to corner UPA Govt. during Budget Session of Parliament

New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): The opposition parties, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is all set to corner the Congress-led UPA Government on a host of issues during the Parliament's Budget Session, which includes the NCTC, internal security, federalism, black money and violations of model code of conduct by ministers in the just concluded assembly polls.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar convened an all-party meeting today before the Budget Session, which would commence on March 12.

"We want discussions on the way children of an Indian couple were snatched away in Norway. We want discussion on internal security in respect to NCTC. There was unanimity that there should discussion on federal government's attack on the federal structure. All the political parties sought the discussion. We had asked for a white paper on the black money and this demand gets further strengthen after the statement of CBI Director," said Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj.

"The government should bring a white paper on the black money. We want discussion on that. We want discussion on violations of the model code of conduct by the ministers in the just concluded polls and their defiance of the Election Commission," she added.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal, however, said the government was ready for discussion on any issue demanded by the opposition once the presidential address to both Houses of Parliament, General Budget and Railway Budget would conclude.

"The speaker had presided over a meeting with the leaders. It was held in a cordial atmosphere. Everybody agreed there would be less time in the first part (of the budget session). So the financial issues such as budget, presidential address, Railway Budget should be discussed. And they (opposition parties) have also demanded discussion of some other issues in the rest of the limited time," Bansal told reporters here after the meeting.

"We said 'these are important issues in this parliament session once it is over', we are ready to discuss on any issue," he added.

The three-month long session will begin on March 12 and continue till May 22.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will present the General Budget on March 16 and Parliament will adjourn on March 30 to enable Standing Committees to examine the demand for grants of various ministries and prepare their reports. The second phase of the session begins on April 24. (ANI)