New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the opposition for its support during the previous parliament session, and expressed the hope that winter session, which began Monday, is "fruitful and result-oriented".
"In the last session, a lot of good work was done because of the active participation of the opposition. I believe that this time, too, we will have a similar experience," Modi told reporters on the first day of parliament's winter session.
The prime minister said every member of parliament has responsibility to "run the nation".
"The people of this country have given us the mandate to run the government. But everyone who has been given a place in parliament has been given the responsibility to run the nation," he said.
"...And that is why, it is my firm belief that the people sitting in the government and all the people sitting in parliament will work together for taking this country forward, and we will have a very fruitful session," he said.
"In this cool environment, we will do good work in the interest of the nation with a cool temperament, such is my hope," he added.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also expressed the hope for a smooth session. "I am confident that just like the last session, in this session also the house will run smoothly," she told reporters.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, meanwhile, said his party will "cooperate with government in passage of key bills", and will play a "constructive role in parliament".
The winter session started Monday and both houses were adjourned on the first day after condoling the death of Congress leader Murli Deora, who passed away in the morning. The two houses also condoled the deaths of those who perished in the unprecedented Jammu and Kashmir floods and the Hudhud cyclone.
The session, which will end Dec 23, is scheduled to have 22 sittings and has 37 bills for introduction and 19 for passage. The list of important legislations lined up includes the GST Bill, Insurance Act amendment bill and the Lokpal Bill amendments.