Describing the Indian Parliament as the sanctum sanctorum of democracy and urging all members of Parliament to work in a "spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation," President Pranab Mukherjee opened the budget session late last month. This is an important session for the Modi government.
It wants to pass six ordinances this session, including an increase in the foreign direct investment in insurance from 26 to 49 percent, and changes to the land acquisition bill.
Opposition parties have united to oppose the land acquisition bill, stating that the bill will force farmers and the poor to lose their lands.