Govt hopes for smooth budget session despite 'Padmaavat', court row

The government will reach out to Opposition parties on Sunday in a structured meeting ahead of the Budget Session beginning Monday in the shadow of protests against Bollywood movie Padmaavat and a row in the Supreme Court between four top judges and the Chief Justice of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will attend the meeting, is expected to appeal to parties to maintain calm in the House and allow the government to transact its business.

While the meeting called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar will be attended by leaders of parties in both Houses, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a separate meeting of House leaders of all political parties the same day.

CPI-M has said that it will rope in other Opposition parties to bring an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra after an open outburst of four senior judges against him on January 12. JDU's expelled leader Sharad Yadav has already demanded a discussion by all Opposition parties over the impeachment issue.

The row over Padmaavat is also continuing along with its release and many Opposition parties have criticised the BJP over it.

Sources in the Opposition say both issues will dominate the first week of the Budget Session that begins with a joint address to both Houses by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The Union Budget is to be presented on February 1 in the first leg of Session, which will conclude on February 9.

While the President will outline the focus of the government's policies in his address, the Centre is expected to announce doles in this year's Budget which will be its last full fledged Budget before the next Lok Sabha polls in 2019.