Indian govt.and opposition face off as parliament opens
We all have an obligation, in opposition as well as in government, to work together to enable our parliamentary democracy
NEW DELHI, Nov 22, 2012 (AFP) - India's shaky government and the opposition locked horns on Thursday as parliament re-opened for a crucial session that will see a recent string of pro-market reforms being hotly contested.
The previous session was a washout with parliament passing just four bills because of disruptions from opposition protests over corruption, adding to a sense of malaise in India where economic growth has slumped alarmingly.
“We all have an obligation, in opposition as well as in government, to work together to enable our parliamentary democracy,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in an appeal to the opposition on Thursday.
“Our parliament has a very heavy legislative agenda during the winter session. I seek cooperation from my colleagues in the house.”Singh's ruling coalition lost its majority in September when a key ally withdrew its 19 MPs to protest against the government's decisions to hike fuel prices and allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector.
Opponents have billed the measures as anti-poor, saying they are aimed at pandering to large foreign corporations.
Sushma Swaraj, leader of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), warned the monthlong session could be as stormy as the previous one, which ended on September 7.