Ahead of meet with floor leaders, PM Narendra Modi dials up party heads

NEW DELHI: Ahead of his video conferencing meet with the floor leaders of parties in the Parliament on April 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his first such initiatives amid the 21-day lockdown, on Sunday called up the heads of various political parties. The interaction will be on government’s approach to deal with the coronavirus pandemic so far and the next plan of action in containing the spread of the virus.

The telephonic calls came as per the requirement of taking everybody on board in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic which has engulfed the country.

Sources said that he spoke to the Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh and party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, DMK chief MK Stalin, TRS chief and Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, and Akali Dal chief Prakash Singh Badal.

The Prime Minister also spoke to former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Devegowda and also former President Pranab Mukherjee.

The Congress had, after its Working Committee meet on Thursday, demanded an all-party meet to discuss the strategy for the coronavirus crisis.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi informed on Saturday that all such floor leaders have been invited whose parties have at least five MPs combined in both the Houses of the Parliament.

Sources said the government proposes to listen to the advice from the floor leaders of different political parties, taking everyone along in the war against coronavirus. (IANS)

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