Govt reaches out to BJP

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee held a 45-minute meeting with top BJP leaders to seek their support for smooth functioning of Parliament's budget session.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee held a 45-minute meeting with top BJP leaders to seek their support for smooth functioning of Parliament's budget session. Mukherjee met LK Advani and leaders of Opposition in both Houses — Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley.

In particular, the Centre sought BJP’s help for passing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which has a deadline of March 31 after India signed an international treaty.

Another bill of international ramifications was the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2011.

HT Image

Meanwhile, SS Ahluwalia, BJP’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, said his party will move amendments to the President's address, which was “completely lacking in vision, having no big picture.”