Mukherjee hopes ‘Budget Session’ of Parliament will function smoothly

NEW DELHI - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that he hopes the upcoming ‘Budget Session’ of Parliament due early next year would run smoothly.

“I hope that ultimately better sense would prevail. Let us hope for that,” Mukherjee told reporters after attending the 105th Annual Session of the PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry here.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre is expected to face an aggressive Opposition during the ‘Budget Session’ of Parliament, which will kick off on February 22, 2011.

The BJP, the Left and other parties have demanded for a discussion on the rising prices in the

Other issues like Indo-Pak talks, Bt brinjal, the Pune terror attack, the Maoist menace and the Telangana agitation are also likely to be discussed.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) created a logjam during the Winter Session of Parliament over the demand for setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into 2G-spectrum scam.

Former Telecom Minister A. Raja was forced to resign last month after a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) faulted him for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue. (ANI)