The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the President’s speech, which will be delivered at the joint session of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session. The speech is likely to set the government’s agenda and intent on how to tackle corruption.
Informing about the decision, sources said, the leaders at the meeting devoted majority of the time in finalising President Pratibha Patil’s speech, which she will deliver at the joint sitting of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session, beginning on February 21.
The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, took up the draft speech para-by-para and gave its approval, sources said.
Sources, however, said, there will be no mention of the JPC in the President’s address. But the formation of such a panel is expected to be announced in Parliament itself after both the government and the Opposition agreed on the modalities on the terms of reference, they added.