Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday sought the co-operation of opposition parties in the smooth running of the winter session of parliament as the Congress sought a JPC (joint parliamentary committee) probe into Rafale deal, discussion on “misuse” of voting machines and discussion on problems concerning farmers.
Modi, who took part in an all-party meeting convened by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry ahead of the winter session, said the government was always receptive to issues raised by political parties.
The government’s agenda for the session, which is the last full session before Lok Sabha elections next year, has 46 items including 45 bills.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said Modi underlined that in a democracy both the government and the opposition share their inputs for efficient governance.
“The prime minister said that the government was ready to discuss all issues as per rules and procedures. If anybody wants to bring something to the government’s notice inside the House or even outside, we are open to it,” Tomar said.
Modi urged the political parties to create a constructive atmosphere during the session and to collectively address issues concerning people. “It is our prime responsibility to contribute to the service of the nation and its people by ensuring the smooth functioning of the parliament,” he said.
Tomar said all political parties present at the meeting have promised full co-operation for the smooth functioning of the parliament.
Asked if the government was ready for a JPC probe into the Rafale fighter jets deal, he said the opposition had several issues including Rafale, farmers’ plight and economy “but they would have to prioritise things as the session was only four weeks long. 
“These things can be settled in the Business Advisory Meetings,” he added.
Tomar said a legislation on the Ayodhya temple was “not the topic of today’s discussion”.
“When something to this effect comes up, we will let you know,” he said.
The government will bring three bills to replace ordinances – Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2018, Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 and the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said his party will press for a JPC inquiry into the Rafale deal and raise the issue of alleged misuse of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Azad said the party will also seek a discussion on “the misuse of investigative agencies” by the government to target political rivals, problems faced by farmers, the fall in the value of rupee, rise in prices of petroleum products, security of women and “erosion of RBI autonomy”.
“We have been demanding for a long time that there should be a JPC probe into the Rafale scam but the government has failed to take a decision. We have again urged it to form a JPC,” he said.
Azad said it was important for democracy that voters have faith in EVMs.
“But unfortunately since the BJP came to power, people have lost faith in EVMs because the ruling party is misusing them. In the recent assembly polls, this crossed all limits. EVM machines were found in houses, hotels, on roads, they were being taken unprotected in buses and jeeps...,” he said.
“There is a big doubt, a question mark whether the elections were free and fair or being held under the watch of the government.”
The session will have a total of 20 sittings spread over 29 days.
Yesterday’s meeting was attended by Mallikarjun Kharge and Anand Sharma of the Congress, Sudeep Bandhopadyay and Derek O’Brien (Trinamool Congress), C M Ramesh (Telugu Desam Party), D Raja (Communist Party of India), Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Partyt), Bhagwant Mann and Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Party), Farooq Abdullah (National Congress), J P Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Majid Memon (Nationalist Congress Party) and N K Premchandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party).
Federal ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Anupriya Patel, Shiv Sena’s Chandrakant Khaire and LJP’s Chirag Paswan were also present at the meeting.