BJP discusses winter session strategy, vows to expose 'false propaganda' on intolerance by opposition parties

A day ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government held a series of meetings discussing the road ahead. While the government made attempts to reach out to other parties, the BJP brainstormed over the strategy to counter the Opposition attack.

In a BJP Parliamentary Board meeting held on Wednesday evening, it was underlined that the party needs to be united in countering the allegations by the opposition parties on the issue of intolerance.

The BJP decided to "expose the farce and false propaganda spread by the opposition".

The party has decided to project the issue of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill as the priority for the government on grounds that it is important for the country. According to the decision taken at the meeting, it is to be projected that reforms is the agenda of the government and whosoever is blocking it is against reforms.

Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the government was ready for a debate on the issue of intolerance, adding that they wanted the House to function.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the opposition parties, saying the GST Bill was in the interest of the nation.

Urging the opposition parties to let the House function smoothly, the Prime Minister said at an all-party meeting, convened by the government, that Parliament should run constructively and fulfill the expectations of the people.

Referring to the address of the Prime Minister at the all-party meeting, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the PM told the representatives of opposition parties that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would speak to them to address their doubts on GST legislation.

Bracing for the stormy Parliament Session, which is set to begin on Thursday, the government on Wednesday convened a meeting of leaders from all political parties.

The meeting discussed the smooth functioning of Parliament. It was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Left's Sitaram Yechury, LJP leader Chirag Paswan, Left leader D Raja, JDU's KC Tyagi and INLD leader Dushyant Chautala, among others.