Both Houses of Parliament to be Adjourned today

New Delhi, November 24, 2014 (Agencies)  As the Winter session of Parliament begins today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reminded lawmakers from all parties that "All MPs have a responsibility to run the country." On his way to Parliament, PM Modi also said that he hopes the opposition will continue to play "a constructive role."

Both Houses were adjourned for the day after obituary references for the Congress' Rajya Sabha MP and former union minister Murli Deora who died early on Monday and Lok Sabha lawmaker from the Trinamool Congress, Kapil Krishna Thakur who had died last month.

 The PM said today, "We all friends who sit in Parliament will work together - that's my belief," also saying, "A new session starts, we have to work with a



calm mind in the cold climate." The government is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha or upper house. The BJP will take heart from the Shiv Sena's promise of support. Despite their recent acrimony in Maharashtra, the Sena's Sanjay Raut said the party will support the government's agenda in Parliament.

 The Winter session will continue till December 23 and will have 22 sittings. The government is focused on passing the Insurance Bill, which seeks to enhance the cap on foreign direct investment in the insurance sector. It has detailed 37 bills it wants passed, among them the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill.To minimize disruptions, the Rajya Sabha has decided to shift the Question Hour, the first item on Parliament's agenda on any given day, from 11am to noon in this session.