New Delhi: The first phase of the Budget Session of Parliament entered its ninth and final day on Thursday. The session, which began on January 31, is being held in two parts—concluding its first segment on February 13, with the second phase scheduled from March 10 to April 4.
A key legislative development is expected today, with the new Income Tax Bill set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the draft report of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 was tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
Contentious JPC Report Triggers Opposition Walkout
The session witnessed a heated exchange over the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf Bill. The Opposition alleged that their dissenting notes had been removed from the report—a charge immediately refuted by the government. The issue led to an intense debate in the Upper House, culminating in a walkout by Opposition members.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the allegations, stating, “As per the rules, the JPC report, including annexures, has been tabled. No JPC in history has worked as extensively as this one.” In response, Congress MP Naseer Hussain claimed that his dissent note had been deliberately excluded and accused Rijiju of “misleading the House.”
Rajya Sabha Chairman Calls for Disciplinary Action
Amid the uproar, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar announced disciplinary measures against three Opposition MPs for their conduct in the House. “I have not ignored the MPs who disrupted proceedings. Action will be taken against them by the end of the day as their actions are against the national interest,” he stated.
As tensions escalated, Dhankhar criticized the Opposition’s decision to walk out, remarking that they were “not walking out from the House, but from their constitutional obligation.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier presented the Union Budget for 2025-26 on February 1, setting the stage for further deliberations in the upcoming phase of the session.
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.