No 'lack of cynics' in this country: Pranab

Concerned over the washout of Parliament this week, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said Parliament is not meant for "disruptions" and also appealed to his "political colleagues" to keep aside politics from major economic decisions.

Acknowledging there are problems of high inflation, rupee depreciation, less than expected growth and difficulties in maintaining fiscal deficit, Mukherjee also said "our problems have to be solved by ourselves."

Mukherjee said he did not believe that there is any sense of "despondency" in the country, noting there is no "lack of cynics' in the country.

"Parliament is meant for passing laws. Parliament is meant for discussions, debates, decisions. Parliament is never meant for disruptions," he said at the ET Awards function in Mumbai.

Mukherjee, who is the Leader of the Lok Sabha, also said that if somebody wants to give this "disease" of disruptions he would like to disagree with them.

"If somebody wants to give this disease, most respectfully I would like to disagree with you and once the institution starts functioning, I am quite confident that it will get back confidence," he said.

Mukherjee said he was quite confident that the corporate sector will get back confidence.

"Corporate sectors will get back confidence. Corporate sectors, individuals, society as a whole will feel yes we can do and I can assure that government is determined to do. Let us create that atmosphere," he added.

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in the first week of the Winter session that began on November 22 were paralysed over a host of issues including price rise, black money, FDI in retain and separate Telangana.

"My appeal to political colleagues is that please keep aside politics from the major economic decisions." he said.

Parliament was paralysed on Saturday over the issue of opening up the retail sector for FDI retail with key UPA ally Trinamool and almost the entire Opposition coming together.