New Delhi

Leaders of several opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha have sought a detailed discussion on the functioning of the External Affairs, Rural Development and Commerce ministries during the ongoing Budget session, sources said on Friday.

According to a source, the demand was raised at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Upper House held on Thursday, as the Rajya Sabha is set to take up debates on the working of various ministries after the Budget session recess. Parliament will reconvene on March 9.

The government, however, proposed that discussions be held on the functioning of the Rural Development and Environment ministries.

Sources said leaders from opposition parties such as the Indian National Congress, All India Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Kerala Congress pressed for debates on the Commerce and External Affairs ministries.

Leaders of parties not aligned with either the ruling coalition or the opposition, including the Biju Janata Dal and the YSR Congress Party, also supported the demand.

“All the leaders were of the view that the External Affairs and Commerce ministries have not been discussed in over a decade, and therefore should be taken up during this session,” the source said.

The opposition has been sharply criticising the government over the India–US interim trade agreement as well as New Delhi’s handling of foreign relations.

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In Parliament’s Budget session, detailed scrutiny of ministries is carried out, with the Rajya Sabha discussing the ‘working’ of ministries, while the Lok Sabha exercises financial oversight through examination and voting on Demands for Grants, during which each ministry’s proposed expenditure for the coming financial year is debated and voted upon.