Ahead of budget session, PMO asks depts for controversial issues

New Delhi: The Budget Session of parliament may be some time away but the Prime Minister’s Office has initiated an exercise to collect inputs on “controversies” surrounding various ministries to prepare itself against the opposition onslaught. [caption id=“attachment_203841” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Preparing for another stormy session. Reuters”]  [/caption] The PMO has written to various ministries and departments asking them to furnish notes on the controversial issues that could be raised by opposition in Parliament, a source said. The inputs were sought from various ministries and departments including finance, commerce, financial services, corporate affairs, disinvestment, heavy industry and the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP). The Industry Ministry has been in the news over the issue of opening of foreign  direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, which the government had to withdraw following protest from several quarters including its key ally Trinamool Congress. Other important issues that are likely to come up in the Budget Session, which is expected to begin in the second week of March, relate to black money, inflation, new Companies Bill and poor response to disinvestment. PTI