Over tea, BJP resents short Winter Session

Describing the meeting as fruitful, Chatterjee said the BJP leaders had expressed unhappiness over the duration of the winter session. Pointing to the fact that it is not for the Speaker, but the Government to decide the date and time-frame of the sessions, Chatterjee said: 8216;8216;I have told them to raise the issue on the floor of the House. That there should be a longer session for better translation of legislative business, should be raised in the House.8217;8217;

For better coordination, the Speaker said he was willing to hold meetings with the leaders of all political parties every morning during the period of the Session.

Malhotra said 8216;8216;the BJP would be aggressive and offensive8217;8217; if the UPA government does not let the House to function. Both Vajpayee and Advani, Malhotra said, told the Speaker that they be allowed space to perform the role of a constructive opposition. 8216;8216;Advanji told the Speaker that 8216;let the Opposition have its say and the Government have its way8217;,8217;8217; he added.

Commenting on the issues which the BJP is likely to take up in the session, Malhotra said: 8216;8216;The government is doing lot of things 8212; repealing POTA, situation in North-East and Kashmir issue, price rise and PSU disinvestment and the proposal for job guarantee. We would like to raise all these.8217;8217;