For economy’s sake,let House function: Pranab to parties

Replying to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Appropriation Bill,he said the government would make efforts to build broad consensus on reforms as the economy has the resilience to overcome the problem.

Expressing disappointment over frequent disruptions in Parliament,the Finance Minister said for the economy to recover,it has to be demonstrated that Parliament and other institutions can function without disturbance.

“Let us not institutionalise instability in Parliament,” he said,adding coalition governments have become stable since 2000. Mukherjee said,“The government will not be found lacking in building consensus on broad economic policies.” He rejected suggestions that the decision making process has been paralysed.

The government,the Finance Minister said,has taken several decisions which include national manufacturing policy,incentives to small industries and package to debt-ridden handloom weavers.

As many as 73,000 villages will be brought into banking network with the help of technology by March 31,Mukherjee said,adding,“Actions are being taken… sometimes there may be some set backs… Running coalition is not an easy job.”

The minister also said the Congress party has limited mandate making it imperative that consensus building is required.

He said questions have been raised whether the economy is going to be derailed in the wake of IIP figures turning negative and the overall slowing of growth.

“We have the capacity and resilience to overcome the crisis,” he said. The industrial production recorded a negative growth of 5.1 per cent in October,while the rupee crossed all time low of Rs 53 to a dollar.

The House later returned the Bill,granting Parliamentary approval for extra expenditure of Rs 63,180 crore for the current fiscal.