It is commendable that @MVenkaiahNaidu Ji has presented a report card of sorts about his first year in office, cont… https://t.co/YqfnXHE2xZ — PMO India (@PMOIndia) 1535869420000

Atal Ji wanted to give @MVenkaiahNaidu Ji a ministry. Venkaiah Ji said- I want to be the Minister for Rural Develop… https://t.co/oosgljI9mu — PMO India (@PMOIndia) 1535869163000

(With inputs from agencies)

NEW DELHI: At the launch of his new book “Moving On… Moving Forward: A Year in Office”, vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed his concern over poor functioning of Parliament and depleting agricultural sector.Requesting the finance minister to be more considerate towards agricultural sector, the vice-President said that there needs to be a bias in favor of agriculture ministry."There is need for sustained support to agriculture. Finance Minister is here,he may not like what I'm saying as he has to take care of everybody, but there has to be bias towards agriculture in coming days otherwise people will leave agriculture as it's not remunerative," said VP Naidu.vice-President Naidu said that while he is satisfied with how country is progressing on other accounts but repeated adjournments in Parliament are non-productive."I'm little unhappy that Parliament is not functioning as it should. On all other counts, things are moving. World Bank, ADB, World Economic Forum, whatever ratings they are giving is heartening. All Indians should be proud of whatever is happening on economic front," said vice-President Naidu.Addressing the audience at the launch, PM Modi congratulated the vice-President and said that the book is commendable since it acts as a report card for VP Naidu's first year in office.Reminscing how vice-President Naidu wanted to be the minister of rural development when late Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the prime minister, PM Modi said that vice-President is a farmer at heart.While former Prime Minster Dr. Manmhan Singh congratulated the vice-President on a successful one year in office but said that the best is yet to come."He brings to office of vice-President,political and administrative experience and that is amply reflected in his 1 year in office. But the best is yet to come," said Dr Singh.Quoting erstwhile poet, Allama Iqbal, Dr Singh said that there is a lot more to achieve for the vice-President."Sitaron ke aage jahan aur bhi hain, abhi ishq ke imtehaan aur bhi hain,"Dr Manmohan Singh The 245-page book with seven chapters titled ‘Moving On…Moving Forward: A Year In Office’ with 465 illustrations, brings out Naidu’s mission of engagement on four key issues with various stakeholders across the country and is in alignment with the mission of a new India in the making.The vice-President stated in the book that his mission of exploring and shaping public discourse over four key issues took him on extensive travels across the country, since he was sworn in on August 11 last year. He identified these core issues as - unrealised demographic dividend, need for an effective ecosystem for farmers to thrive and bridge the rural-urban divide, orienting scientific advancements to better the lives of the people and enhancing public awareness about the rich Indian heritage and inculcating national pride in the country’s pluralistic, inclusive, harmonious worldview.The book also contains a detailed chapter on various initiatives taken by him as Chairman of Rajya Sabha and refers to the rapidly- expanding viewership of Rajya Sabha TV.Former prime ministers Deve Gowda and Dr Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad were among the esteemed invitees at the book launch.