PM sees new beginning in Guv-Opp ties

New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) Seeing a "new beginning" in the
Government-Opposition relationship after a bitterly-fought
elections, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday
favoured bipartisanship on issues of national interest and
sought to reach out to non-UPA states promising not not to
discriminate against them.

In his first speech in both the Houses of Parliament
after the UPA coalition got a decisive majority, he said the
mandate was for stability and continuity and the ruling side
has accepted it with humility.

"There is no no scope for bragging," he said in his
45-minute long reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to
the President's address to the joint session in which he noted
that the "underlying sense of unity" in the speeches of
Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and other leaders
including Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad.

The motion was adopted by a voice vote in both the
Houses after rejection of Opposition amendments.

In keeping with the mood, the Prime Minister did not
not touch on the contentious women's reservation bill that has
been stiffly opposed by parties like SP, RJD and JD(U), public
sector disinvestment over which key allies DMK and Trinamool
Congress have expressed reservations or Advani's demand for
an Inquiry Commission on the Mumbai terror attacks.

Singh also utilised the opportunity to send a message
of "zero tolerance" against terror to Pakistan while promising
to meet "more than half way" if its leadership takes "strong
and effective" steps to prevent terrorism directed against
India.