Govt rules out any resignation at all-party meeting

Setting the stage for confrontation in Parliament, an all-party meeting called in Delhi on the eve of the Monsoon Session on Monday ended in a deadlock over controversies related to Lalit Modi and Vyapam scam even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered to discuss all issues.

Parliament house in New Delhi on Monday, July 20. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Minister of State Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi arrives for the all-party meeting called by Venkaiah Naidu in Parliament house in New Delhi. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

Venkaiah Naidu arrives for the all-party meeting in Parliament house in New Delhi on Monday. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

Sharad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan at the all-party meeting in Parliament house in New Delhi. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

The Prime Minister chose the occasion to remind parties that smooth running of Parliament is a “shared responsibility” though the government has to take initiative for it.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and others leaders during the all-party meeting in Parliament house on Monday. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

On the Land bill, the Prime Minister expressed agreement with the remarks by Ram Gopal Yadav that since there is no consensus on the issue, both the government and the opposition should make some adjustments to resolve the issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Venkaiah Naidu and Gulam Nabi Azad at the all-party meeting in Parliament house in New Delhi. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

The Congress was, however, somewhat isolated at the meeting on its stand of not allowing Parliament to function if Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje did not resign in connection with Lalit Modi row and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did not quit over Vyapam scam.

Narendra Modi with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu at the all-party meeting in New Delhi. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

Making a brief appearance at the meeting, the Prime Minister said that all political parties should move forward collectively on issues discussed in the last session while keeping the country’s interest as paramount in mind.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and others leaders after all party meeting in Parliament house. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)

At the end, K C Venugopal of Congress said his party was “ready for a fruitful discussion on important issues” but insisted that the government must come out with “convincing replies”.

SP Leader Ram Gopal Yadav and SP Leader Satish Mishra after all party meeting called by Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. (Source: Photo by Anil Sharma)