BJP satisfied with its performance during first half of Budget session

New Delhi, Mar 17 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday expressed satisfaction of having discharged its responsibilities during the first half of the Budget session.

The session that began on February 22 and concluded on March 16 witnessed presentation of railway and general budgets by the government. Discussions also took place on various important issues including rising prices of essential commodities and the Women's Reservation Bill.

"We both are very satisfied after the first half of the Budget session. Advaniji (Lal Krishna Advani, senior leader of the BJP) yesterday during the parliamentary board meeting of the party expressed happiness over party's performance," said Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP said it approached the issues after formulating a political strategy.

"What ever issues came up for discussion we stuck to it after formulating a political strategy. We were not deterred by the criticism. The result of which was that only the group won which had our support," Swaraj said.

Swaraj also said that her party got Women's Reservation Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha, where not only the Congress party but the entire ruling alliance was in minority. The bill seeks to reserve 33 percent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

"I would thank Arunji (Arun Jaitley, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha) that we got Women's Reservation Bill passed in the house where not only the Congress but the entire UPA (India's ruling United Progressive Alliance) was in minority," she said.

Rising prices have sparked opposition-backed street protests and made India's government reluctant to push through reforms such as relaxing fuel and farm price controls, even though the ruling Congress party faces no risk of losing power anytime soon.