The Hindu : National : I am confident of a smooth running of Parliament: Somnath

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004

National

National

I am confident of a smooth running of Parliament: Somnath

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV 8. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, today expressed the hope that the parliamentary impasse that marred the proceedings during the last two sessions would be resolved amicably at the all-party meeting scheduled for November 23. "All the parties appear keen on ensuring that Parliament functions smoothly. I am confident that together we will able to resolve the issue," Mr. Chatterjee told the media at the conclusion of his meeting with the leaders of non-Congress and non-BJP parties in Parliament.

Today's meeting was part of Mr. Chatterjee's initiative to evolve a consensus on the smooth running of the House. It was the third in the series of meetings with the leaders of the different political parties in Parliament. On October 26, he hosted a dinner for the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Congress leadership. Two days later, he invited the BJP leadership for tea to find common ground between the two principal formations. The exercise is part of the build-up to the all-party meeting that will be presided over by the vice-president, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Mr. Chatterjee said he was heartened by the assurances given by all the leaders who had met him in the past few weeks. "Everybody has promised to extend their full cooperation to the chair in ensuring that Parliament functions smoothly," he said.

Those who attended today's meeting include Ram Gopal (SP), Gurudas Das Gupta (CPI), Suhkdev Singh Dhindsa (Akali Dal), M. Ramadoss (PMK), Ravinder Naik (TRS), K. Yerrannaidu (TDP), L. Ganeshanm (MDMK), Veerendra Kumar (JD-S), Joachim Baxla (RSP), Arun Kumar Sarma (AGP), Nilotpal Basu (CPI-M), P.G. Narayanan (AIADMK), Ravula Chandra Sekhar Reddy (TDP), Ram Deo Bhandari (RJD), Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena), Praful Patel (NCP), Abhani Roy (RSP), R. Shunmugasundaram (DMK).

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