Govt keen to debate 'so-called intolerance' - PM asks all parties to cooperate in House

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the all-party meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. Picture by Prem Singh

TT, New Delhi, Nov. 25: The government is likely to seize on the Opposition's demand for a discussion on intolerance in Parliament's winter session starting tomorrow, viewing it as a "good opportunity to expose" the "so-called intellectuals".

What remains to be decided is the rule under which the discussion will take place. In case of the Rajya Sabha, that could be decided at tomorrow's meeting of the business advisory committee as Bengal rivals Trinamul and CPM have submitted notices to discuss the issue.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury wants the House to move a resolution condemning "the atmosphere of growing intolerance manifesting in violence and spread of communal polarisation in the country".

Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu remained non-committal on the resolution but said the government was open to a discussion on any and every issue.

"The discussion on the 'so called intolerance' will provide us a good opportunity to expose them. We will also bring the document 'Why the So-called Intellectuals Silent Then & Violent Now: It is nothing but an ideological intolerance'. After so many years, the other view is being heard, and they cannot tolerate that," Naidu said.

Addressing an all-party meeting earlier in the day, the minister said: "Though the government does not agree with the Opposition's perception of rising intolerance, we are willing to go along with the Opposition for a discussion in an appropriate manner."

The session will begin today with a special two-day debate on the Constitution to mark B. R. Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also put in an appearance at the meeting for 10 minutes and sought the Opposition's co-operation for the smooth functioning of Parliament.

On the contentious GST bill, the government said finance minister Arun Jaitley would reach out to parties and address their reservations.

Derek O'Brien, Trinamul's leader in the Rajya Sabha, iterated support for the bill. "The Congress and the BJP have played ping-pong over the bill for long. They should now ensure that it is passed. Regional parties have been consistent," O'Brien said.

Trinamul is of the view that as the ruling BJP and the government are on the back foot after the Bihar poll setback, "this is a good opportunity to debate, deliberate and legislate, not agitate".

The Congress continued to hold its GST cards close to its chest. Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress leaders in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, said the final call would be taken on the basis of the discussions with Jaitley on the various issues red-flagged in the GST bill by the party.

In Bangalore, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi said: "Our position is clear on GST. We have three points of difference with the government. We want GST and we want simplification but it cannot go through without conversation."