Ahead of the all-parties meeting called by finance minister and Leader of the House in Lok Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee, on February 8, the BJP-led NDA has convened a meeting of its floor leaders on February 1. The meeting will discuss the NDA’s response to the meeting called by Mr Mukherjee and formulate its strategy for the Budget Session of Parliament. Black money issue and the NDA’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into corruption cases including 2G spectrum allocation scam are also likely to be discussed during the meeting.
The NDA and other Opposition parties had stalled the Winter Session of Parliament over constitution of a JPC probe into the corruption issues. The BJP has given enough indications that Budget Session of Parliament, beginning from February 21, would function smoothly if the Centre concedes a JPC probe.
On Monday, senior BJP leader and the leader of opposition, Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj wrote on a micro-blogging website: “Pranab Mukherjee has invited us or a luncheon meeting on Feb. 8 for mutual consultation on the Budget Session of Parliament.”
The BJP on earlier occasions had rejected government’s appeal.