The Hindu : Front Page : Somnath's dinner meeting for leaders deferred

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Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

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Front Page

Somnath's dinner meeting for leaders deferred

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 22. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee's dinner for leaders of political parties ahead of the winter session of Parliament, scheduled for today, has been deferred. The move comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conveyed its inability to attend on account of its ongoing protest against the arrest of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Sarasawathi. However, the meeting of the leaders, deputy leaders and chief whips of the parties represented in Parliament will go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday.

Traditionally, the Speaker hosts a lunch or dinner for the leaders of all political parties on the eve of every session of Parliament — an informal exercise meant to work out the modalities of the session. Today's dinner had acquired added significance in view of the concerted effort launched by Mr. Chatterjee to bring about a broad understanding between the Treasury benches and the Opposition to help allow both Houses of Parliament to function smoothly during the winter session, beginning on December 1.

Cooperation assured

The Deputy Leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, spoke to Mr. Chatterjee over phone this morning and conveyed his party's inability to attend the dinner. "I expressed our regrets at not being able to attend his dinner because we have decided to observe upwas (fast)."

However, his party would attend tomorrow's meeting and make its position known on issues. "While we will cooperate totally with the Presiding Officers, we will also continue to aggressively raise issues of public importance," Mr. Malhotra said.

The last two sessions of Parliament were dogged by controversy, and the budget session was adjourned a week early following a standoff.

Mr. Chatterjee has already held separate meetings with the Congress leadership and the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. He also met BJP leaders and those from the smaller parties.

Speaker satisfied

"I am very heartened by the response of all the senior leaders. I am sure that with the cooperation of all members of Parliament, we will be able to function in a manner that adds to the prestige of the institution," Mr. Chatterjee said.

Tomorrow's meeting, to be presided over by the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Bhairon Singh Shekhwat, is aimed at evolving a consensus on the conduct of business and the priority in which issues that come before the House are to be taken up.

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