The Budget Session in Parliamen𝔉t is scheduled to begin on January 31, 2025, days after alleged mismanagement in Uttar Pradesjh's Maha Kumbh Mela led to a tragic stampede killing at least 30 people and the Opposition leaders have demanded a discussion on the matter among others.
An all-party meeting was held on Thursday, the eve of the Parliament session, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Sing🤡h where opposition parties accused the central government of politicising the parꦿliamentary committees and trying to push its agenda by using its majority.
Budget Session To Begin On January 31
The Budget session starts on Friday with President Droupadi Murmu addressing both the Houses of Parliament assembled together in the Lok Sabha. After the President's address, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey in the Lok Sabha and tꦇhe Rajya Sabha se♈parately.
Sitharaman will present the Unꦗion Budget on Saturday for the eighth consecutive time.
The government has listed 16 Bills, besides the financial business,♎ for the Budget session which will be held from January 31 to February 13 before breaking for recess to examine the Budget proposals.
The session willꦏ reconvene on March 10 and continue till April 4.
The 16 Bills listed for the B𓂃udget session include the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, The Railways (Amendment) Bill, The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 🎃and The Immigration and Foreigners Bill.
All Party Meeting Ahead Of Budget Session; What Are Oppn Members Planning To Demand?
The all-party meeting on Thursday was attended by Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, K Suresh, Gaurav Gogoi and Pramod Tewari, Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O'Brien, RSP leadeܫr N K Premachandran, BJD leader Sasmit Patra, DMK leader T R Baalu, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, JMM leader Mahua Maji, and NCP-SP leader Fouzia Khan, among others.
The opposition accused the BJP-led ꦰgovernment of politicisation of the Kumbh congregation and prevalence of VIP culture at the cost of the common man.
The opposition parties also alleged that the government is steam-rolling its agenda in parliamentary panels and having disregard for parliamentary procedure of finalising House business at the meetings of the Busines🏅s Advisory Committee.
Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, told PTI, "We exཧpressed our concerns over the biased manner in the conduct of Parliament proceedings."
A section of the opposition leaders also questioned the government over the publication o💟f a parliamentary bulletin on the number of days allott♐ed for discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, contending that this was the prerogative of the Business Advisory Committee.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said opposition leaders have decided that the INDIA bloc will raise all issues together during the♚ Budget session.
Emerging from the all-party meeting convened by the government on the eve of the session, Tiwari also slammed the "politicisation of the Kumbh", saying VIP movement during the even🌠t was creating difficulties for the common man.
BJD leader Sasmit Patra accused the BJP of going back on🅺 its promise of grantiꦍng special state to Odisha.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader E T 🦋Mohammed Basheer said he raised the issue of the weakening of the law-making process in the country.
"The JPC on 🌳Waqf was constituted to have discussion, but m♏embers were not given enough opportunity to speak," Basheer said.
AIADMK member M Thambi Dur༒ai wanted the government to make efforts to regain control over Katchetheevu island.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Responds
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Centre has noted down the concerns expressed by the Opposition leaders. 🐬He said, "The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will decide which issues will be taken up for discussion. We hope for a smooth and productive Budget session. Cooperation from all parties is essential for a meaningful and constructive parliamentary session."
When asked about the opposition's demand for a discussion on the stampede at the Maha Kumbh, Rijiju said the decision will be taken by t﷽he committee.
"There are many impo💟r🗹tant issues...the Kumbh was also mentioned," he said.
