Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed to the opposition to allow smooth functioning of the parliament during the budget session, saying all issues agitating them could be debated on the floor of the house.

But he kept quite when asked how his government would deal with ally DMK, which is strongly opposing the new fertilizer regime. The governmetn recently announced a nutrient-based subsidy regime to check growing subsidy bill. He is, apparently, doesnot want to join issues with the government's key ally.

Singh chose to concentrate on the opposition parties and said, "the government is ready to discuss all issues in parliament and I, therefore, appeal to the opposition not to have any disruption of parliamentary proceedings."

He said "parliament is a forum for debate and the government is ready for it. we seek the opposition's cooperation in the smooth running of this important session which will be devoted to the passage of the budget, both the general budget and the railway budget". He was speaking to media persons as he arrived in parliament for the start of the budget session.