Ahead of Winter session of Parliament, Govt says 'ready for debate on intolerance'

New Delhi: With the Winter session of Parliament beginning Thursday expecting to be a stormy affair, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that the government has decided to have dialogue with Congress and address concerns of Opposition on Goods and Services Tax and and other bills.

Commenting on the raging intolerance debate across the country, Naidu said the government has nothing to shy about and is ready for a debate on the contentious issue.

“38 legislative items including seven new bills for introduction will come up in Parliament in Winter session,” Naidu announced.

The Winter session of Parliament beginning tomorrow is expected to be a stormy affair, with the opposition set to raise the 'intolerance' issue and press for a resolution to condemn it.

Keen to pass key reform bills like GST and ensure a smooth session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for the GST bill, saying it is "in national interest".

Earlier today, the Congress said it was open to discussions with the government on the GST bill that Parliament needs to pass.

"We are open-minded on the issue," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on the sidelines of a press briefing.

An all-party meeting held here in the backdrop of cine actor Aamir Khan's remarks on 'intolerance' saw opposition parties making a strong pitch for an early discussion on the issue, insisting that the returning of awards by writers, artistes and filmmakers should not be taken lightly.