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The stage is set for the Budget Session of Parliament to begin today, July 22. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a demand for special status from its key allies while the Opposition is protesting over a number of issues, including the name-plate controversy of eateries during the Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh.
In this three-week-long session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a record seventh consecutive budget (2024-25) against the backdrop of the changed political scenario in the country.
The BJP fell short of the majority mark in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, forcing it to rely on its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies, including N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), to form the government at the Centre.
Sitharaman will also present the Economic Survey today.
Opposition demands discussion on NEET-UG, Jammu attacks
In an all-party meeting held on July 21 ahead of the Budget session of Parliament, the Congress insisted that issues like the NEET-UG scam, the Uttar Pradesh government’s order to shut down restaurants during the Kanwar Yatra and the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur should be taken up for discussion during the Parliament session.
Congress general secretary (in-charge of communication) Jairam Ramesh said that in the all-party meeting of the leaders of the House chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi raised several issues on behalf of the party which should be raised in Parliament.
“Gogoi called for a discussion on governance issues related to the NEET/NET scam, the UPSC controversy, deterioration in railway security and Agniveers,” Ramesh said. The Congress also raised issues related to Centre-state relations and the economy, which it said should be debated.
It is expected that the united opposition under Bharat Block will corner the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government on these issues during the budget session of Parliament.
JD-U, YSRCP demand special package
BJP’s ally JDU and YSRCP, one of the BJP’s friendly parties, demanded Special Category Status (SCS) for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Biju Janata Dal (BJD), once a BJP ally, also reminded the BJP of its promise to grant special category status to Odisha.
“How much the political atmosphere has changed! At the all-party meeting of the leaders of the House, the BJD leader reminded the Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh) and BJP president JP Nadda that the BJP’s manifesto for the 2014 assembly elections in Odisha had promised special category status to the state,” Ramesh said.
19 meetings, 6 bills
Congress leader K. Suresh told reporters after the all-party meeting that his party along with other Indian Bloc members have demanded that the post of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha be reserved for the opposition as per tradition.
This session of Parliament will have 19 sittings and will continue till August 12. The government is expected to introduce six bills, including a bill to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act. Apart from this, the government will also seek Parliament’s approval for the budget of Jammu and Kashmir. This union territory has been under central rule since 2018.
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