LS Speaker holds all-party meet ahead of Budget Session

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Budget Session beginning tomorrow, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today held an all-party meeting to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament where opposition is set to target government on issues like corruption in defence deals.

Besides Kumar, the meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Karia Munda, Leader of Lok Sabha and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.

BJP leader L K Advani, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, NDA convenor and JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party MP Neeraj Shekhar were among the leaders from various political parties who attend the meeting.

Leaders from UPA ally NCP and outside supporter of the government BSP were conspicuous by their absent.

BJP has said that it will raise the chopper scam and the remarks of Shinde on Hindu terror in Parliament.

During the meeting, Sharad Yadav raised the issue of frequent disruptions of parliamentary proceedings. "I have requested the Speaker and others to ensure smooth functioning of the House...the attitude which has developed in the last eight years of not letting the House function should end," he told reporters here.

He said there should be a proper probe and a detailed debate on scams, especially the one relating to kickbacks involved in the purchase of helicopters for VVIP transportation.

Yadav said he would demand debate on the land bill and rising prices during the Budget Session.