1std LD Writethru: Indian Parliament's budget session begins

The budget session of the Indian Parliament began Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the cooperation of all parties to ensure key legislative work get done.

"I am hopeful that the budget session will function in a positive environment and everyone will work in this direction to do something good," Modi told the media outside the Parliament in the national capital, reaching out to all political parties.

He added: "In a democracy there should be dialogue, discussion and there be positive outcome, with this determination the budget session is commencing."

On Sunday, in an all-party meeting, Modi had assured all the opposition parties that all their concerns would be addressed as his government sought support to pass the bills aimed at replacing six ordinances, including one to overhaul the land acquisition act.

The main opposition Congress party has refused to support the government on the acquisition issue, with its senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad saying, "We won't be supporting an anti-people ordinance. "

The ordinances will lapse if not passed within six weeks since the commencement of the session by both houses of Parliament. The government does not have a majority in the Upper House or Rajya Sabha; so it needs the support of opposition parties to pass any bill. Endi