President’s Speech Finalised, Pratibha Patil to Address Joint Session on June 3
In the first meeting of the Cabinet after its expansion, the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament to be held next week was finalized. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the meeting.
The first session of Lok Sabha will commence from June 1 with new MPs taking oath. The election of the Speaker will be held on June 3, and the President will address a joint sitting of the parliament next day.
As the convention is, the President Pratibha Patil’s address will reveal the government’s agenda for the year prepared on the basis of the policies and programmes of the ruling party and its allies. The address is extensively worked on by Manmohan Singh.
The Prime Minister, who has already pledged a 100-day action plan for his government, is likely to emphasise the United Progressive Alliance’s unfinished agenda particularly with regard to the infrastructure and development sectors, and may announce a fresh stimulus package to help economy out of its present downturn.
According to sources, a national food security act to guarantee 25 kg of rice or wheat a month to impoverished families, reinforcing vital social sector programmes like the rural employment and Bharat Nirman programmes, a focus on terrorism and initiatives for urban employment will, in main, come up in the President’s address.
On the President’s address, debate will take place on June 5, 8 and 9 after which the Lok Sabha, as also the Rajya Sabha that will convene June 4, will pass a motion of thanks before adjourning.
Ahead of the short session, a security drill was conducted at Parliament House on Saturday to check the preparedness of security personnel for emergency evacuation.
The budget session of Parliament is likely to begin in the first week of July.
